Traction, prenatal development, and the labioseptopremaxillary region

Twenty-nine human fetuses ranging in age from 8 to 22 weeks were coronally sectioned for gross light microscope analysis of the labioseptopremaxillary region. In "normal" fetuses from 8 to 15 weeks, the septopremaxillary ligament was present. The horizontal and oblique fibers of the orbicularis oris muscle were poorly developed initially and increased in density with age. The anterior nasal spine and the alveolar process of the maxillae were present and in the same coronal plane. From 15 to 22 weeks, the horizontal and oblique fibers were well developed and inserted into the perichondrium of both alar and nasal cartilages. The septopremaxillary ligament was thus obliterated or more difficult to define, and the anterior nasal spine was located anterior to the alveolar process. In the cleft fetuses from 8 to 15 weeks, the nasal septum was absent or horizontally rotated. No septopremaxillary ligament or orbicularis oris fibers were noted, and the anterior nasal spine was not distinguishable. From weeks 15 to 20, the fibers of the orbicularis oris muscle were poorly differentiated, inserting asymmetrically into the perichondrium of the lateral alar cartilage on the noncleft side, the septopremaxillary ligament was absent, and the anterior nasal spine and the premaxillae were in the same coronal plane. These results suggest that the midfacial deficiencies seen in some cleft patients might have an origin in prenatal dysmorphology.