Maxilla

Looks like

The paired upper jaw bone, forming the middle of the face, the floor of each eye socket and the roof of the mouth.

What it does

Holds the upper teeth, carries the maxillary sinuses and anchors the nose and cheeks.

Keeping it well

Gum care keeps the tooth sockets; upper back-tooth infection can spread into the sinus above, and a numb cheek after a facial blow suggests a fracture.

Its parts

• Right maxilla
• Left maxilla

Related conditions

• Achondroplasia
• Acromegaly
• Brain abscess
• Fractures
• Fragility fracture
• Frailty & falls in older age
• Hyperparathyroidism
• Osteogenesis imperfecta (brittle bone disease)
• Osteomalacia & rickets
• Osteomyelitis (bone infection)
• Osteoporosis
• Paget's disease of bone
• Sarcoma
• Traumatic brain injury (moderate to severe)
• Vitamin B1, C and other deficiencies
• Vitamin D deficiency