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Maxillary bone

The maxillary bone (maxilla) is a paired facial bone forming the upper jaw and a central component of the midface. It contributes significantly to the formation of the orbit, nasal cavity, and oral cavity, and plays a key structural role in facial contour, dentition support, and skull stability.

Each maxilla is pneumatised by the maxillary sinus and articulates with multiple craniofacial bones, making it highly relevant in radiology, dentistry, maxillofacial surgery, and trauma assessment.

Synonyms

  • Maxilla

  • Upper jaw bone

Location

  • Situated in the midface on either side of the nasal cavity

  • Inferior to the orbits

  • Lateral to the nasal cavity

  • Superior to the oral cavity

  • Anterior to the pterygoid plates of the sphenoid

  • Forms part of the facial skeleton and anterior skull base

Anatomical components

  • Body of the maxilla:

    • Contains the maxillary sinus

  • Processes:

    • Frontal process – contributes to the lateral nasal wall

    • Zygomatic process – articulates with the zygomatic bone

    • Alveolar process – houses upper teeth sockets

    • Palatine process – forms anterior hard palate

  • Surfaces:

    • Anterior (facial) surface

    • Posterior (infratemporal) surface

    • Superior (orbital) surface

    • Medial (nasal) surface

Relations

Superiorly:

  • Orbit (floor of the orbit)

  • Infraorbital canal and groove

Inferiorly:

  • Oral cavity

  • Hard palate

Medially:

  • Nasal cavity

  • Inferior and middle nasal meatus (via adjacent bones)

Laterally:

  • Zygomatic bone

  • Infratemporal fossa (posterior aspect)

Posteriorly:

  • Pterygopalatine fossa

Articulations

  • Frontal bone

  • Ethmoid bone

  • Nasal bone

  • Zygomatic bone

  • Palatine bone

  • Lacrimal bone

  • Inferior nasal concha

  • Vomer

  • Opposite maxilla (intermaxillary suture)

Structures related to the maxilla

  • Maxillary sinus

  • Infraorbital nerve and vessels

  • Nasolacrimal duct (adjacent)

  • Upper dentition and alveoli

  • Hard palate (anterior two-thirds)

X-ray appearance

Skull and facial radiographs (Waters, Caldwell, lateral views):

  • Maxillary body: Radiopaque bone forming midfacial contour

  • Maxillary sinus: Radiolucent cavity with thin bony walls

  • Alveolar process: Tooth sockets clearly visualized

  • Infraorbital margin: Smooth curved outline

CT appearance

Non-contrast CT:

  • Bone cortex: Hyperdense, well-defined margins

  • Maxillary sinus: Air-filled cavity with thin walls

  • Alveolar ridge: Clearly delineated tooth-bearing portion

  • Infraorbital canal: Linear bony tunnel in the orbital floor

Post-contrast CT:

  • Bone: No enhancement

  • Adjacent soft tissues and mucosa: Expected enhancement patterns

3D CT VRT appearance

Volume-rendered technique (VRT):

  • Facial contour: Clearly demonstrates midface morphology

  • Maxillary processes: Well visualized frontal, zygomatic, alveolar, and palatine processes

  • Dentition: Alveolar arch and tooth sockets well defined

  • Clinical utility: Excellent for trauma assessment, surgical planning, and deformity evaluation

MRI appearance

T1-weighted images:

  • Cortical bone: Low signal intensity

  • Marrow within maxilla: Intermediate to high signal (age dependent)

  • Maxillary sinus air: Signal void

  • Adjacent soft tissues: Normal signal characteristics

T2-weighted images:

  • Bone cortex: Low signal

  • Marrow: Intermediate signal

  • Sinus air: Signal void

CT VRT 3D image

Maxillary bone 3d

X-Ray image

X ray Maxillary bone anatomy image -img-00000-00000