Maxillary tuberosity
Tuber maxillae
- Latin synonym: Eminentia maxillae
Definition
The maxillary tuberosity is located on the lower part of the infratemporal surface of maxilla. This area is a rounded prominence that becomes especially noticeable after the growth of the wisdom teeth. Its lateral side is rough, which allows it to connect with the pyramidal process of the palatine bone, and in some cases, it also joins with the lateral pterygoid plate of the sphenoid bone.
Right above the maxillary tuberosity is a smooth area that marks the front surface of the pterygopalatine fossa. Here, you'll find a groove for the maxillary nerve. This groove heads laterally and slightly upwards, leading into the infraorbital groove on the orbital surface of maxilla.
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/
