Maxilas

Maxilas is the plural form used in some languages for the maxillae, the paired bones that form the upper jaw in most vertebrates, including humans. In English, the term more commonly used is maxillae, but maxillas is encountered in non-English medical and anatomical literature.

Anatomy and function

Each maxilla contributes to the central part of the face and supports the upper dentition. The bones form the upper dental arch and provide the floor of the orbits, the lateral walls of the nasal cavity, and a substantial portion of the hard palate. The maxilla houses the maxillary sinus, an air-filled cavity that connects with the nasal cavity. The alveolar process carries the roots of the upper teeth. Important openings include the infraorbital foramen, which transmits the infraorbital nerve and vessels, and the incisive canal, which contains the nasopalatine vessels and nerve. The maxilla articulates with several other bones, including the zygomatic, frontal, palatine, nasal, lacrimal, and sphenoid bones, contributing to the orbital rim and nasal cavity.

Development

The maxilla develops mainly through intramembranous ossification from the maxillary processes of the early skull. During growth, the right and left maxillae fuse at the intermaxillary sutures, and development continues through adolescence in response to tooth eruption and overall craniofacial growth.

Clinical relevance

Maxillary integrity is essential for facial structure, occlusion, and sinus function. Fractures of the maxilla are clinically significant and are categorized in systems such as Le Fort I, II, and III. Pathologies can include maxillary sinusitis, dental infections affecting the sinus, traumatic injuries, and neoplasms.

Etymology and usage

The term derives from Latin maxilla, meaning jaw. In English, the preferred plural is maxillae, while maxillas is used in some languages and contexts.