Infratemporal Surface of The Body of The Maxilla

The infratemporal surface is convex, directed backward and lateralward, and forms part of the infratemporal fossa.

It is separated from the anterior surface by the zygomatic process and by a strong ridge, extending upward from the socket of the first molar tooth. It is pierced about its center by the apertures of the alveolar canals, which transmit the posterior superior alveolar vessels and nerves.

At the lower part of this surface is a rounded eminence, the maxillary tuberosity, especially prominent after the growth of the wisdom teeth; it is rough on its lateral side for articulation with the pyramidal process of the palatine bone and in some cases articulates with the lateral pterygoid plate of the sphenoid.

It gives origin to a few fibers of the internal pterygoid muscle (aka Pterygoideus internus). Immediately above this is a smooth surface, which forms the anterior boundary of the pterygopalatine fossa, and presents a groove, for the maxillary nerve; this groove is directed lateralward and slightly upward, and is continuous with the infraorbital groove on the orbital surface.

This article incorporates text from a public domain edition of Gray's Anatomy.

Bones of head and neck: the facial skeleton of the skull (TA A02.1.08–15, GA 2.156–177)
Maxilla
Surfaces
  • Anterior: fossae (Incisive fossa, Canine fossa)
  • Infraorbital foramen
  • Anterior nasal spine
  • Infratemporal: Alveolar canals
  • Maxillary tuberosity
  • Orbital: Infraorbital groove
  • Infraorbital canal
Nasal: Greater palatine canal
Processes
  • Zygomatic process
  • Frontal process (Agger nasi, Anterior lacrimal crest)
  • Alveolar process
  • Palatine process (Incisive foramen, Incisive canals, Foramina of Scarpa, Incisive bone, Anterior nasal spine)
Other
  • Body of maxilla
  • Maxillary sinus
Zygomatic
  • Orbital process (Zygomatico-orbital)
  • Temporal process (Zygomaticotemporal)
  • Lateral process (Zygomaticofacial)
Palatine
Fossae
  • Pterygopalatine fossa
  • Pterygoid fossa
Plates
  • Horizontal plate (Posterior nasal spine)
  • Perpendicular plate (Greater palatine canal, Sphenopalatine foramen, Pyramidal process)
Processes
  • Orbital
  • Sphenoidal
Mandible
Body
  • external surface (Symphysis menti, Lingual foramen, Mental protuberance, Mental foramen, Mandibular incisive canal)
  • internal surface (Mental spine, Mylohyoid line, Sublingual fovea, Submandibular fovea)
  • Alveolar part of mandible
Ramus
  • Mylohyoid groove (Mandibular canal, Lingula)
  • Mandibular foramen
  • Angle
  • Coronoid process
  • Mandibular notch
  • Condyloid process
  • Pterygoid fovea
Minor/
nose
  • Nasal bone: Internasal suture
  • Nasal foramina
  • Inferior nasal concha: Ethmoidal process
  • Maxillary process
  • Vomer: Vomer anterior
  • Synostosis vomerina
  • Vomer posterior (Wing)
  • Lacrimal: Posterior lacrimal crest
  • Lacrimal groove
  • Lacrimal hamulus

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