Which bone articulates with the maxilla to form the upper jaw?

The correct understanding is that the bone that articulates with the maxilla to form the upper jaw is the zygomatic bone. The maxilla is a paired bone that forms the upper jaw and part of the orbit, and it plays a crucial role in the facial skeleton. The zygomatic bone, often called the cheekbone, pairs with the maxilla to help create the structure of the cheek and to form part of the orbit as well.

While the nasal bone does contribute to the overall structure of the face by supporting the bridge of the nose, it does not directly articulate with the maxilla to form the upper jaw. The mandible serves as the lower jaw, while the orbital bone refers to the bones that make up the eye sockets; neither of these bones articulates with the maxilla in the context of forming the upper jaw structure. Thus, the zygomatic bone is the correct answer due to its pivotal role in facial anatomy in relation to the maxilla.