maxilla

/mæk'silə/

Thân thiện

The dentist examines the patient's maxilla on the X-ray.

Definition

Noun 1. The upper jawbone in vertebrates: The maxilla is the bone, or pair of bones, that forms the upper jaw. In humans and most vertebrates, it is fused to the cranium (skull) and contains the upper teeth. 2. A paired bone in arthropods: In insects and other arthropods, one of a pair of mouthparts used for manipulating food.

Examples of Usage

• Noun (Anatomy):
  • The surgeon repaired the fracture in his maxilla.
  • The maxilla forms the roof of the mouth and the floor of the nasal cavity.
  • In the skull, the maxilla is a central facial bone.

Advanced Usage

• Maxillary (adjective): Pertaining to the maxilla.
  • The patient underwent maxillary surgery.
• "Maxillofacial" (adjective): Relating to the jaws and face.
  • He is a specialist in maxillofacial trauma.

Variants and Related Words

• Maxillae (noun): The plural form of maxilla.
  • The two maxillae fuse at the midline.
• Maxillary bone: A synonym for the maxilla.
• Superior maxillary bone: An older, less common term for the maxilla.

Synonyms

• Upper jaw
• Upper jawbone
• (In technical contexts) Maxillary bone

Related Terms (Not Synonyms)

• Mandible: The lower jawbone, which is movable and articulates with the skull.
• Palatine bone: A bone that, along with the maxilla, forms the hard palate.
• Zygomatic bone: The cheekbone, which articulates with the maxilla.

Học thuật

Noun

1. the jaw in vertebrates that is fused to the cranium

Từ đồng nghĩa

• upper jaw
• upper jawbone
• maxillary