maxillary arch

arch (ahrch) a structure of bowlike or curved outline.

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arch of aorta , aortic arch the curving portion between the ascending aorta and the descending aorta, giving rise to the brachiocephalic trunk, the left common carotid artery, and the left subclavian artery.

Arch of aorta (arcus aortae).

aortic arches  paired vessels arching from the ventral to the dorsal aorta through the branchial arches of fishes and the pharyngeal arches of amniote embryos. In mammalian development, arches 1 and 2 disappear; 3 joins the common to the internal carotid artery; 4 becomes the arch of the aorta and joins the aorta and subclavian artery; 5 disappears; 6 forms the pulmonary arteries and, until birth, the ductus arteriosus.

branchial arches  paired arched columns that bear the gills in lower aquatic vertebrates and which, in embryos of higher vertebrates, become modified into structures of the head and neck. In human embryos, called pharyngeal a's.

cervical aortic arch  a rare anomaly in which the aortic arch has an unusually superior location.

dental arch  the curving structure formed by the teeth in their normal position; the inferior dental a. is formed by the mandibular teeth, the superior dental a. by the maxillary teeth.

double aortic arch  a congenital anomaly in which the aorta divides into two branches which embrace the trachea and esophagus and reunite to form the descending aorta.

arches of foot  the longitudinal and transverse arches of the foot.

lingual arch  a wire appliance that conforms to the lingual aspect of the dental arch, used to promote or prevent movement of the teeth in orthodontic work.

mandibular arch 

1. the first pharyngeal arch, from which are developed the bone of the lower jaw, malleus, and incus.

2. inferior dental a.

maxillary arch 

1. palatal a.

2. superior dental a., see dental a.

neural arch  the primordium of the vertebral arch; one of the cartilaginous structures surrounding the embryonic spinal cord.

open pubic arch  a congenital anomaly in which the pubic arch is not fused, the bodies of the pubic bones being spread apart.

oral arch  one formed by the roof of the mouth from the teeth (or residual dental arch) on one side to those on the other.

palatal arch  the arch formed by the roof of the mouth from the teeth on one side of the maxilla to the teeth on the other or, if the teeth are missing, from the residual dental arch on one side to that on the other.

palatoglossal arch  the anterior of the two folds of mucous membrane on either side of the oropharynx, enclosing the palatoglossal muscle.

palatopharyngeal arch  the posterior of the two folds of mucous membrane on either side of the oropharynx, enclosing the palatopharyngeal muscle.

palmar arches  four arches in the palm: the deep palmar arterial a. formed by anastomosis of the terminal part of the radial artery with the deep branch of the ulnar, its accompanying deep palmar venous a., and the superficial palmar arterial a. formed by anastomosis of the terminal part of the ulnar artery with the superficial palmar branch of the radial and its accompanying superficial palmar venous a.

pharyngeal arches  the branchial arches in the human embryo.

plantar arch  the arch in the foot formed by anastomosis of the lateral plantar artery with the deep plantar branch of the dorsal artery.

pubic arch  the arch formed by the conjoined rami of the ischial and pubic bones on two sides of the body.

pulmonary arches  the most caudal of the aortic arches, which become the pulmonary arteries.

residual dental arch  the curved contour of the ridge remaining after tooth removal.

right aortic arch  a congenital anomaly in which the aorta is displaced to the right and passes behind the esophagus, thus forming a vascular ring that may cause compression of the trachea and esophagus.

supraorbital arch  the curved margin of the frontal bone forming the upper boundary of the orbit.

tarsal arches  two arches of the median palpebral artery, one of which supplies the upper eyelid, the other the lower.

tendinous arch  a linear thickening of fascia over some part of a muscle.

vertebral arch  the bony arch on the dorsal aspect of a vertebra, composed of the laminae and pedicles.

Vertebral arch (arcus vertebrae). The vertebral arch consists anteriorly of a pair of pedicles and posteriorly of a pair of laminae.

zygomatic arch  one formed by processes of zygomatic and temporal bones.

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maxillary arch

Etymology: L, maxilla, upper jaw, arcus, bow

the curved bony ridge of the upper jawbone, in the shape of a horseshoe, including the dentition and supporting structures.

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arch [ahrch]

a structure of bowlike or curved outline.

abdominothoracic arch the lower boundary of the front of the thorax.

arch of aorta (aortic arch) the curving portion between the ascending aorta and the descending aorta, giving rise to the brachiocephalic trunk, the left common carotid artery, and the left subclavian artery.

aortic a's paired vessels arching from the ventral to the dorsal aorta through the branchial clefts of fishes and amniote embryos. In mammalian development, arch 1 largely disappears but may contribute to the maxillary and external carotid arteries; the dorsal portion of arch 2 persists and forms stems of the stapedial arteries; arch 3 joins the common to the internal carotid artery; arch 4 becomes the arch of the aorta and joins the aorta and subclavian artery; arch 5 disappears; and arch 6 forms the pulmonary arteries and, until birth, the ductus arteriosus.

branchial a's

four pairs of arched columns in the neck region of some aquatic vertebrates that bear the gills.

Branchial arches. From Dorland's, 2000.

pharyngeal arches.

dental arch either of the curving structures formed by the crowns of the upper and lower teeth in their normal positions (or by the residual ridge after loss of the teeth); they are called the inferior dental arch (see mandibular arch) and the superior dental arch (see maxillary arch).

a's of foot the longitudinal and transverse arches of the foot. The longitudinal arch comprises the medial arch or pars medialis, formed by the calcaneus, talus, and the navicular, cuneiform, and the first three tarsal bones; and the lateral arch or pars lateralis, formed by the calcaneus, the cuboid bone, and the lateral two metatarsal bones. The transverse arch comprises the navicular, cuneiform, cuboid, and five metatarsal bones.

lingual arch a wire appliance that conforms to the lingual aspect of the dental arch, used to secure movement of the teeth in orthodontic work.

mandibular arch

1. the first branchial arch, being the rudiment of the maxillary and mandibular regions; it also gives rise to the malleus and incus.

2. the dental arch formed by the teeth of the mandible; called also inferior dental arch.

maxillary arch the dental arch formed by the teeth of the maxilla; called also superior dental arch.

neural arch vertebral arch.

palatal arch the arch formed by the roof of the mouth from the teeth on one side to those on the other.

pharyngeal a's structures in the neck region of the human embryo that are analagous to the branchial arches in lower vertebrates; the four pairs of pharyngeal arches are mesenchymal and later cartilaginous structures that develop during the first two months of embryonic life and are separated by clefts (the pharyngeal grooves). As the fetus develops, the arches grow to form structures within the head and neck. Two of them grow together and enclose the cervical sinus, a cavity in the neck. Called also branchial arches.

pubic arch the arch formed by the conjoined rami of the ischium and pubis of the two sides of the body.

pulmonary a's the most caudal of the aortic arches; it becomes the pulmonary artery.

tendinous arch a linear thickening of fascia over some part of a muscle.

vertebral arch the dorsal bony arch of a vertebra, composed of the laminae and pedicles of a vertebra.

zygomatic arch the arch formed by the temporal process of the zygomatic bone and the zygomatic process of the temporal bone. See also anatomic Table of Bones in the Appendices.

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maxillary (mak´siler´ē),

adj pertaining to the superior jaw.

maxillary antroplasty

(mak´siler´ē an´trōplas´tē),
n the addition of bone or other material to the antral floor of the sinus for the purpose of accommodating dental implants.

maxillary arch,

n the upper dental arch and its supporting bone.

maxillary artery,

n (internal maxillary artery), an artery that arises from the external carotid artery just below the level of the mandibular neck in the substance of the parotid gland. Its many branches include the middle meningeal, lower alveolar, temporal, pterygoid, masseteric, and buccal arteries, and the posterior superior alveolar and infraorbital arteries.

maxillary deficiency,

n a maxilla whose structure is incomplete, such as in a cleft palate.

maxillary fracture,

n a break in one or both of the maxillary bones; frequently sustained in automobile accidents and contact sports injuries.

maxillary labial frenum,

n a vertical band of oral mucosa located between the midlines of the maxillary central incisors, which connects the attached gingiva to the upper lip and safeguards against any excessive motions.

maxillary nerve,

n See nerve, maxillary.

maxillary retrusion,

n See retrusion, maxillary.

maxillary sinus,

n See sinus, maxillary.

maxillary sinusitis,

n an inflammation of the mucosa lining the air sac in the maxillary bone. It can mimic in symptoms a pulpal infection of the maxillary posterior teeth.

maxillary torus

(mak´siler´ē tor´s),
n See palatal torus.

maxillary tuberosity,

n See tuberosity, maxillary.

maxillary vein,

n a path of drainage for the pterygoid plexus of veins in the upper neck region. It is posterior to the mandibular condyle and merges with the superficial temporal vein in the parotid gland to form the retromandibular vein.