1. Face development begins in the 4th week of gestation from 5 mesenchymal prominences - the mandibular, maxillary, and frontonasal prominences. 2. The medial and lateral nasal prominences develop from the frontonasal prominence and grow toward each other, fusing to form the midline of the nose. 3. The mandibular prominences fuse to form the lower jaw, while the maxillary prominences fuse with the lateral nasal prominences and medial prominences to form the cheeks, upper lip, and sides of the nose.

1. Development of face
By
Dr. Abdul Waheed Ansari
Chairperson & Prof. Anatomy,
RAKCODS. RAKMHSU.12/18/2014 1

2. Face development begins from 4th
week of I.U.L.
Initially formed by 5
mesenchymal swellings also
called as processes or
prominences.
• 2 mandibular prominences
(right and left, from 1st arch
neural crest mesenchyme)
• 2 maxillary prominences
(right and left, from 1st arch
neural crest mesenchyme)
• frontonasal prominence
(midline structure, from
cranial neural crest
mesenchyme)
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3. Medial and lateral nasal prominences
appear from frontonasal prominence
• Two nasal pits develop in
the ventrolateral aspects
of the frontonasal
prominence, thereby
forming 2 lateral and
medial nasal
prominences.
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4. Development of the face occurs via the
growth and fusion of these prominences:
• The mandibular prominences grow
together to form a single mandible.
• The maxillary prominences grow toward
the midline and fuse with the lateral nasal
prominences.
• A deep groove called the nasolacrimal
groove forms between the maxillary and
lateral nasal prominences on either side
of the developing nose.
• Most of the groove is obliterated with
fusion of the maxillary and lateral nasal
prominences, but a small portion persists
as the nasolacrimal duct and lacrimal sac.
• The superior portion of the frontonasal
prominence grows and extends to form
the forehead
• Inward growth of the maxillary
prominences also causes them to
fuse with the medial nasal
prominences.
• Continued growth of the maxillary
prominences combined with
regression of the frontonasal
prominence pushes the two medial
nasal prominences together such
the medial prominences eventually
fuse to form the midline of the nose
and philtrum of the upper lip .
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5. Summary of face development
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Embryonic structure
1. Frontonasal
prominence
2. Medial nasal
prominence
3. Lateral nasal
prominence
4. Nasolacrimal groove
5. Maxillary prominence
6. Mandibular prominence
Adult derivative
1. Fore head and bridge of
nose
2. Mid line of nose and
philtrum of upper lip
3. Alae of nose
4. Nasolacrimal duct and
lacrimal sac
5. Cheeks and lateral
upper lip
6. Lower lip and lower jaw.

6. Disruption of the development of any of the facial
prominences can result in a variety of facial anomalies
• Hare lip (bilateral failure
of maxillary and medial
nasal prominences to
fuse).
• Oblique facial cleft
(unilateral failure of
maxillary, medial, and
lateral nasal
prominences to fuse)
• Macrostomia
(incomplete lateral
merging of maxillary and
mandibular processes).
• Median cleft lip
(incomplete fusion of
medial nasal
prominences)
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7. Hare lip Oblique facial cleft
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8. The Macrostomia-abnormal largeness of
the mouth".
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9. Median cleft lip
• It arises
embryologically from
incomplete fusion of
the medial nasal
prominences.
• Post operative
reconstruction of
median cleft lip.
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10. References
Longman's Medical Embryology:11th ed - Ch. 9
(Skeletal System): pp. 127-134; Ch. 16 (Head &
Neck): pp. 265-287
• 12th ed - Ch. 10. (Axial Skeleton): pp. 133-141;
Ch. 17 (Head & Neck): pp. 260-282.
• https://web.duke.edu/anatomy/embryology/c
raniofacial/craniofacial.html
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