maxillär

Maxillär refers to the maxilla, the paired upper jaw bones in the human skull, and to structures or regions associated with them. The maxilla forms the central portion of the face, supports the upper teeth, contributes to the floor of the orbit, and borders the nasal cavity and the hard palate. It articulates with several bones, including the nasal, lacrimal, ethmoid, inferior nasal concha, palatine, zygomatic, vomer, and the opposite maxilla at the intermaxillary suture. The body of each maxilla contains the maxillary sinus, one of the paranasal sinuses, which drains into the middle nasal meatus.

Anatomically, the maxilla comprises a frontal (orbital) process, a zygomatic (malar) process, an alveolar process that holds the dental roots, and a palatine (palatal) process that forms part of the hard palate. The infraorbital foramen on the anterior face transmits the infraorbital nerve and vessels, branches of the maxillary nerve (V2) and maxillary artery, respectively.

Development and function: the maxilla develops predominantly by intramembranous ossification from neural crest-derived tissues, largely under the influence of the first pharyngeal arch. It participates in forming the orbital floor, the nasal cavity, and the palate, while housing the upper dentition in the alveolar process.

Clinical relevance: maxillary anatomy is central to dentistry, orthodontics, and maxillofacial surgery. Fractures of the maxilla are classified by Le Fort I–III patterns. Pathologies of the maxillary sinus include sinusitis. Treatment considerations often involve the maxillary nerve (V2) and the maxillary artery for anesthesia, hemorrhage control, and surgical planning.