Skeletal Structure Of The Body Of The Maxilla

Description

Maxilla corpus (body) dominates the midface in anatomical position, bounded inferiorly by the alveolar process for the maxillary dentition and superiorly by the orbital surface that contributes to the floor of the orbit. Anteriorly, the facial surface relates to the piriform aperture and typically includes the infraorbital foramen, while the medial (nasal) surface forms the lateral wall of the nasal cavity. Laterally, the zygomatic process projects toward the zygomatic bone, and posteriorly the infratemporal surface borders the pterygopalatine region near the maxillary tuberosity. Clinical work in the midface turns on these relationships. The infraorbital canal transmits the infraorbital nerve and vessels, so fractures involving the anterior wall or orbital floor commonly present with infraorbital hypoesthesia and diplopia, and the proximity of the maxillary sinus (antrum of Highmore) explains why odontogenic infection or oroantral communication can track into sinonasal disease. Bony landmarks on the corpus maxillae guide Le Fort fracture pattern teaching and help surgeons plan access corridors that respect the orbit superiorly and the dental roots inferiorly. A hard landmark. Use this illustration in head and neck anatomy courses to anchor surface-to-cavity correlations (nasal cavity, orbit, oral cavity), and in dental, ENT, and oral and maxillofacial surgery publications discussing maxillary sinus floor elevation, infraorbital nerve block, Caldwell-Luc approach, or reconstruction after midface trauma. It also suits radiology teaching that pairs skeletal anatomy with CT of the maxillary sinus walls and orbital floor. Anatomical accuracy verified by SciePro's Medical Advisory Board.