PRENATAL GROWTH OF

MAXILLA

BY- ANUBHUTI SABHLOK

THE PRENATAL LIFE ARBITRARILY IS DIVIDED

INTO THREE PERIODS:

1) PERIOD OF OVUM
2) EMBRYONAL PERIOD
3) FETAL PERIOD

The period of ovum is of 2 weeks,in this period

there is cleavage of ovum and its attachment to

the uterine wall.

The embryonal period starts from the third week

to the eighth week of IUL, during this period major

development of facial and cranial region occurs.

The fetal period extends between the eighth week

and the birth,during this period increase in growth

rate and size of craniofacial structures occurs.

Growth of maxilla
Around the fourth week of IUL, a prominent

bulge appears on the ventral aspect of the

embryo corresponding to the developing
brain.
Below the bulge is a shallow depression
corresponding to the primitive mouth called
the stomodeum.
Floor of mouth-buccopharangeal membrane.

By around 4th week of IUL,5 branchial

arches form in of future head and neck.

The first branchial arch is called the
mandibular arch forms the lateral wall of
the stomodium and it plays an important
role in development of the naso-maxillary
region.

Pharyngeal arches

The mesoderm

covering the
developing brain
proliferates in a
downward direction
and forms a
downward
projection called the
frontonasal process.

The stomodeum is thus overlapped

a) Superiorly by the frontonasal process
b) Laterally by the mandibular arches.

The mandibular

arch gives off a bud from

its dorsal end called THE MAXILLARY
PROCES, which grows ventro-mediocranially and is called as the mandibular
process.

Thus at this stage the stomodium is

overlapped
Above by frontonasal process
Below by mandibular process
On either side by maxillary process

The ectoderm overlying the frontonasal

process shows bilateral localised

thickenings called as Nasal placodes, which
soon sinks and form nasal pits.
The formation of these nasal pits divides
the frontonasal process into: ( A)The medial nasal process
( B)The lateral nasal process
As the maxillary process undergoes growth
the fronto nasal process becomes narrow
so that the 2 nasal pits come closer.

The depression present in the midline of

fusion of the maxillary process and the
medial nasal process is called the philtrum.
The line of fusion of the maxillary process
and the lateral
nasal process
corresponds to the nasolacrimal duct.
The two mandibular process grow medially, and

fuse to form the lower lip and lower jaw.

DEVELOPMENT OF PALATE
The palate is formed by contributions of the:(a)Maxillary process
(b)Palatal shelves given off by the maxillary

process
(c)Fronto nasal process
The fronto nasal process gives rise to the
premaxillary region while the palatal shelves
form the rest of the palate.

As the palatal shelves grow medially, their

union is prevented by the presence of tongue

initially. In the seventh week(47th and 54th
day)a transformation in the position of the
palatal shelves occurs from vertical to
horizontal.
As the proliferation of nasal septum takes
place during the mandibular growth it allows
the tongue to drop down.

The two palatal shelves, by 81/2 weeks are in a close approximation. After
joining of the palatal shelves, the epithelial lining sheds off. The connective
tissue intermingle s resulting in their fusion.
The medial edges of the palatal processes fuse with the free lower end of
the nasal septum separating the 2 nasal cavities from each other and from
the oral cavity.
Failure of fusion of palatine processes with each other and the nasal
septum gives rise to defect CLEFT PALATE