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Abnormal vomer development in human fetuses with isolated cleft palate.
Lene Hansen1, Dorrit Nolting, Gitte Holm
1Department of Orthodontics, School of Dentistry, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Copenhagen, DK-2200 Copenhagen N, Denmark.
Summary
The vomeral footplate develops around 16 weeks menstrual age in normal fetuses. This crucial bone structure is absent in fetuses with isolated cleft palate, indicating a developmental abnormality.
Area of Science:
- Craniofacial development
- Embryology
- Anatomy
Background:
- The vomer bone, a midline structure of the skull base, plays a role in facial development.
- Prenatal development of the vomer, particularly its footplate, is not fully understood.
- Isolated cleft palate is a common congenital anomaly affecting facial structures.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the prenatal development of the human vomer, focusing on the vomeral footplate.
- To examine vomeral morphology in fetuses diagnosed with isolated cleft palate.
Main Methods:
- Histological analysis of serial frontal sections from nine human fetuses (four normal, five with isolated cleft palate).
- Specimens ranged from 13 to 21 weeks menstrual age.
- Tissue sections were stained with toluidine blue.
Main Results:
- In normal fetuses, bilateral ossifications forming the vomeral footplate appeared from 16 weeks menstrual age, later connecting to the vomeral body.
- Fetuses with isolated cleft palate (14-19 weeks menstrual age) lacked the bilateral ossification areas and the vomeral footplate.
Conclusions:
- The vomeral footplate originates from bilateral ossifications around 16 weeks menstrual age in normal fetal development.
- Absence of the vomeral footplate in fetuses with isolated cleft palate suggests a disruption in craniofacial development related to the palate.
- This finding highlights a potential early indicator of isolated cleft palate during prenatal development.