What does maxillary mean?
Maxillary is an anatomical word used to describe the maxilla, the bone forming the upper part of the jaw and containing the upper teeth. The adjective is common in medicine and biology, appearing in terms such as maxillary sinus, maxillary artery, and maxillary bone. As a noun, a maxillary is an upper jawbone, a usage found particularly in descriptions of fish and other animals. The word is related to maxilla and contrasts with mandibular, which refers to the lower jaw. Although it may sound unfamiliar in general writing, maxillary is useful when discussing the structure, blood supply, or cavities of the upper jaw precisely.
Relating to or involving the maxilla, the upper jawbone.
"The surgeon repaired a fracture of the maxillary bone."
This is the usual modern use and is especially common in anatomy, dentistry, and medicine.
A maxillary bone, especially the upper jawbone of a fish or other animal.
"The lower jaw moved forward relative to the maxillary as the fish fed."
The noun is less common in general English and is chiefly used in zoological and anatomical descriptions.
The maxilla is the upper jawbone—and also a key contributor to the smile.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does maxillary come from?
The word comes through Latin from maxilla, meaning “upper jaw” or “jawbone.” The adjective form maxillaris, meaning “of or relating to the jaw,” supplied the English adjective maxillary. Its development followed the established anatomical pattern of Latin anatomical terms, with the jaw divided into an upper maxillary region and a lower mandibular region.
Related word forms
How maxillary is actually used
Maxillary is primarily a technical anatomical term. In medicine, it commonly refers to structures associated with the upper jaw, such as the maxillary sinus, maxillary artery, and maxillary teeth.
Easily confused with maxillary
The maxilla is the upper jawbone itself, whereas maxillary is an adjective meaning relating to the maxilla or a noun naming the bone.
The maxilla is the upper jaw, while the mandible is the lower jaw.