canine fossa

In human musculoskeletal anatomy of the head and neck, lateral to the incisive fossa is a depression called the canine fossa.

At other times, a window must be made into the sinus in the Canine fossa--a procedure referred to as "Caldwell-Luc".

The levator anguli oris (caninus) is a facial muscle of the mouth arising from the canine fossa, immediately below the infraorbital foramen.

The term is derived from the fact that the space is in the region of the canine fossa, and that infections originating from the maxillary canine tooth may spread to involve the space.

It is larger and deeper than the comparable incisive fossa, and is separated from it by a vertical ridge, the canine eminence, corresponding to the socket of the canine tooth; the canine fossa gives origin to the Caninus.