Editing Maxilla (section)

{{Short description|Upper jaw bone}}
{{About|the maxilla in vertebrates|arthropod maxillae|Maxilla (arthropod mouthpart)}}
{{More citations needed|date=December 2007}}
{{Infobox bone
| Name          = Maxilla
| Latin         = maxilla
| Image         = Maxilla anterior.png
| Caption       = Position of the maxilla
| Image2        = Maxilla - animation 02.gif
| Caption2      = Animation of the maxilla
| Precursor     = First [[branchial arch]]<ref>{{EmbryologyUNC|hednk|023}}</ref>
| Origins       =
| Insertions    = 
| Articulations =
}}

In [[vertebrate]]s, the '''maxilla''' ({{plural form}}: '''maxillae''' {{IPAc-en|m|æ|k|ˈ|s|ɪ|l|iː}})<ref>''[[OED]]'' 2nd edition, 1989.</ref> is the upper fixed (not fixed in [[Neopterygii]]) [[bone]] of the [[jaw]] formed from the fusion of two maxillary bones. In humans, the upper jaw includes the [[hard palate]] in the front of the [[mouth]].<ref>[http://webster.com Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary]''.</ref><ref>{{cite book |title=Illustrated Anatomy of the Head and Neck |last=Fehrenbach |last2=Herring |publisher=Elsevier |year=2012 |page=55 |isbn=978-1-4377-2419-6 }}</ref> The two maxillary bones are fused at the intermaxillary suture, forming the [[anterior nasal spine]]. This is similar to the [[mandible]] (lower jaw), which is also a fusion of two mandibular bones at the [[mandibular symphysis]]. The mandible is the movable part of the jaw.