maxilla

max·il·la

noun \mak-ˈsil-ə\

plural max·il·lae \-ˈsil-(ˌ)ē, -ˌī\ or maxillas

Definition of MAXILLA

1

: jaw 1a

2

a : an upper jaw especially of humans or other mammals in which the bony elements are closely fused b : either of two membrane bone elements of the upper jaw that lie lateral to the premaxillae and that in higher vertebrates including humans bear most of the teeth

3

: one of the first or second pair of mouthparts posterior to the mandibles in insects, myriopods, crustaceans and closely related arthropods

Illustration of MAXILLA