ABSTRACT
With the differential growth of these mesodermal masses, the ectodermal grooves soon become obliterated; however, it is along these grooves that facial clefts commonly develop (Table 1) (6). The maxillary, mandibular, and frontonasal prominences of the facial processes are of great importance because they determine through
FIGURE 1 ■ Embryologic development of the face. Frontal and lateral drawings illustrate progressive stages in the development of the human face from 40 days to 14 weeks. Hatched areas indicate frontonasal prominence; light shaded areas, maxillary prominence; dark shaded areas, mandibular prominence. Source: From Ref. 7.
