The orbital process projects superolaterally from the anterior border of the perpendicular plate of the bone. It forms a box like process of bone that is internally hollowed forming an osseous sinus. This process articulates with three bones - anteriorly with the maxilla, posteriorly with the sphenoid, and medially with the ethmoid. It forms a superior surface that faces superolaterally to contribute to the posterior floor of the orbit. A lateral surface contributes to the posterior wall of the inferior orbital fissure.

Orbital arises from the Latin orbis meaning a circle. Medieval anatomists were the first to apply this term to the eye socket. Process is a term used in anatomy to describe a projection on a bone. It comes from the Latin pro- meaning forward and cessus for gone. It is an old term that can be traced back to the writings of the early anatomist Celsus.

Processus orbitalis ossis palatini