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intermaxillary

intermaxillary

9.3
A small bone at the front of the upper jaw
  • noun
  • /ˌɪntərmæksɪˈlɛri/
  • Specialized
translation icon : intermaxilar
  • Damage to the intermaxillary can affect the alignment of the upper teeth.

Examples

  • In some animals, the intermaxillary bone is fused with the maxilla.

  • The paleontologist identified an unusually shaped intermaxillary in the fossilized skull.

  • The intermaxillary bone is vital.

  • Is the intermaxillary bone present in all vertebrates?

  • The paleontologist identified an unusually shaped intermaxillary in the fossilized skull.

  • Damage to the intermaxillary can affect the alignment of the upper teeth.

  • In some animals, the intermaxillary bone is fused with the maxilla.

Synonyms

premaxilla
vsintermaxillary
  • Specialized
9.9

A bone at the front of the upper jaw that holds the front teeth

is a single small front upper jaw bone rather than a paired bone

Compounds

intermaxillary suture
  • Specialized
9.9

A line where the two bones of the upper jaw meet

Surface Forms

Morphology

intermaxillary = maxillary (semi-transparent) = inter + maxilla + ary

Formation is regular: 'inter-' + 'maxillary' yields a term meaning 'between the maxillae'; the morphological relation is clear.

Etymology

Intermaxillary as a noun names a small bone at the front of the upper jaw. The word breaks into inter- 'between' and maxilla 'jaw', so you can remember it as the little bone near the middle where the two upper jaw parts meet and help hold the front teeth.