[The premaxilla and facial growth 68 years later]

The thesis of Dr Etienne Cadenat on the embryology of cleft-lip dates from 1924. From this epoch onwards it was demonstrated that the human premaxilla had a specific development not corresponding to that of other mammals, in whom the suture between the pre- and post- maxilla is active and participates in the sagittal, transversal and vertical growth of the maxilla. Numerous studies have been undertaken to verify that the human premaxilla does in fact exist, and several have gone as far as to conclude in its non-existence. The author restudied the question from the histologic angle, and showed that the zone of union between premaxilla and maxilla did not contain any histologic elements that could identify a growth suture. Indeed, the spatial orientation of this suture would not allow anteroposterior growth. It can be concluded that the human premaxilla does exist but its specificity has again been demonstrated.