maxilla
/makˈsɪlə
/noun (plural maxillae /makˈsɪliː/) Anatomy & Zoology
1The jaw or jawbone, specifically the upper jaw in most vertebrates. In humans it also forms part of the nose and eye socket.There are five large teeth on the maxillae (upper jaw bone), rather short canines, and at least twenty small and uniform post-canines....
- Anteriorly, the ventral margin of the maxilla curves dorsally.
- Two major bones of the upper jaw, the maxilla, and the premaxilla, were previously firmly attached to the skull and had teeth.
1.1(In many arthropods) each of a pair of mouthparts used in chewing.First, Protohadros has a very large pair of maxillae....
- Behind the mandibles, Mandibulata bear one, or more typically, two pairs of maxillae, frequently with a long palp, as in the second maxilla of Macrocyclops.
- The mouthparts consist of a pair of mandibles and 2 pairs of maxillae.
Origin
Late Middle English: from Latin, 'jaw'.