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Midface Hypoplasia and Cranial Base Morphology in Syndromic Craniosynostosis: A Comparative Analysis Study Using a Predictive Regression Model
Published on: November 4, 2025
Postnatal changes in the growth dynamics of the human face revealed from bone modelling patterns
Cayetana Martinez-Maza1, Antonio Rosas, Manuel Nieto-Díaz
1Department of Paleobiology, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales José Gutiérrez Abascal 2, Madrid, Spain. cayetana@mncn.csic.es
Journal of Anatomy
|July 4, 2013
Summary
Human skull growth shifts from downward in subadults to forward in adults. This study reveals distinct bone modeling patterns in adult facial skeletons and mandibles, impacting craniofacial development.
Area of Science:
- Human craniofacial development
- Skeletal biology
- Ontogenetic growth patterns
Background:
- Human skull morphology arises from complex, coordinated growth of skeletal components.
- Previous studies explored craniofacial growth up to age 14, but late ontogeny dynamics remain unclear.
- The relationship between facial skeleton and mandible growth in adults is poorly understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare bone modeling activities in the craniofacial skeleton of subadult and adult humans.
- To establish the bone modeling pattern of the adult human face and mandible.
- To investigate changes in craniofacial growth direction during late ontogeny.
Main Methods:
- Histological analysis of bone modeling in human craniofacial samples.
- Comparison of bone modeling patterns between subadult and adult specimens.
- Mapping of bone modeling fields across the facial skeleton and mandible.
Main Results:
- First-time establishment of bone modeling patterns for the adult human face and mandible.
- Patchy distribution of bone modeling fields observed, reflecting complex individual growth dynamics.
- Significant differences in bone modeling between subadult and adult anterior facial and posterior mandibular regions.
Conclusions:
- Human craniofacial growth direction shifts from predominantly downward in subadults to forward in adults.
- Ontogenetic changes in growth direction are hypothesized to support oral and nasal cavity enlargement post-brain maturation.
- These findings provide new insights into the complex developmental processes shaping the adult human skull.
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