maxiller

Maxiller is a term used in some languages to refer to the maxilla, the paired upper jaw bones of the skull, or to structures related to the upper jaw. In English, the standard terms are maxilla for the bone and maxillary for the related adjective; maxiller is not commonly used in formal English anatomical terminology, but may appear in translations or regional text.

Anatomy and relationships: Each maxilla forms a major portion of the midface and houses the upper teeth in the dental alveolar processes. The maxilla has several processes: the frontal process toward the forehead, the zygomatic process toward the cheekbone, and the palatine process that helps form the anterior part of the hard palate. The body of the maxilla contains the maxillary sinus, one of the facial sinuses. The maxilla articulates with multiple bones, including the nasal bones, lacrimal bones, ethmoid, inferior nasal concha, palatine bones, zygomatic bones, and the opposite maxilla at the intermaxillary suture.

Functions and clinical relevance: The maxilla provides the upper dental arch, contributes to the floor of the orbit, and forms part of the lateral nasal wall and the hard palate. The infraorbital foramen transmits nerves and vessels serving the midface. Clinically, the maxilla is involved in procedures such as maxillofacial surgery and dental implants, and in injuries like Le Fort fractures, which describe patterns of maxillary disruption. Pathologies may include maxillary sinusitis, osteomyelitis, and traumatic fractures.

Etymology and usage: The term derives from Latin maxilla, meaning jawbone. In medical English, maxillary or maxilla is the standard form; maxiller appears mainly in non-English contexts or as an archaic/less common variant.