Incisive fossa of anterior surface of maxilla - Nasal cavity - Nasal cavity - e-Anatomy
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Incisive fossa of anterior surface of maxilla

Fossa incisiva faciei anterioris maxillae

Definition

Antoine Micheau; Muhammad A. Javaid

The incisive fossa of anterior surface of maxilla is a shallow bony depression located just above the incisor teeth, and towards the medial aspect of the canine eminence. This spot serves as the origin point of depressor septi muscle. Additionally, fibers of the nasalis muscle originate from the anterior surface, just superolateral to the incisive fossa, along the nasal notch.

Nb: this incisive fossa is not officially listed in the terminology anatomica, that already contains the term incisive fossa (used to describe the depression on the inferior surface of the bony palate into which the incisive canals open by the incisive foramina).

References

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  • Standring, S. (2016). ‘Chapter 30: Face and scalp’ in Gray’s anatomy: the anatomical basis of clinical practice. (41st ed.) New York NY: Elsevier, pp. 484-486.

  • Soriano RM, Das JM. Anatomy, Head and Neck, Maxilla. [Updated 2022 Sep 12]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2024 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK538527/

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