Main Entry: max·il·la

Pronunciation: \mak-ˈsil-ə\

Function: noun

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

1 : jaw 1a

[maxilla illustration]

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