Dr.

Gabriel Bever Head Development II

DEVELOPMENT OF THE HEAD AND NECK II

I. OVERVIEW AND STUDY OBJECTIVES

In this second lecture on the developmental history of the head and neck we will be
concentrating on two general areas: 1) formation of the face and palate from the prominences
that lie rostral to the pharyngeal arches, and 2) formation of the organs of special sensation from
the sensory placodes. Clinical presentations of embryonic malformations can be especially useful
in understanding facial development.

II. TERMS
Frontonasal prominence Unilateral/bilateral cleft lip Coloboma
Nasal placodes Cleft palate External ear
Placode Median cleft lip/nose Middle ear
Medal nasal prominence Oblique facial cleft Inner ear
Lateral nasal prominence Optic vesicles Otic placode
Maxillary prominence Optic stalk Otic vesicles
Mandibular prominence Lens placode Cochlear duct
Philtrum Optic cup Endolymphatic duct
Premaxilla Retina External auditory meatus
Nasolacrimal groove Lens vesicle Tympanic membrane
Nasolacrimal duct Choroid fissure Auricle (pinna)
Nasolacrimal sac Optic nerve Tympanic cavity
Alae Sclera Auditory tube
Palatine shelves Dura mater Tensor tympani muscle
Secondary palate Cornea Stapedius muscle
Nasal septum Ciliary muscles Microtia
Incisive foramen Pupillary muscles Agenesis of inner ear

III. FACIAL PROMINENCES

The closure of anterior portion of neural tube (anterior neuropore) forms a smooth, rounded
structure anterior called the Frontonasal Prominence.

Placodes are local thickenings of surface ectoderm in the head generally destined to develop as
components of the peripheral nervous system. Nasal Placodes appear on the frontolateral aspects
of the frontonasal prominence.

A pair of additional prominences (one medial and one lateral) grow around each of the two nasal
placodes = 4 Nasal Prominences. The result are two medial nasal prominences and two lateral
nasal prominences that collectively form the nose.

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Dr. Gabriel Bever Head Development II

We discussed the Stomodeum and its relationship to the primitive oral cavity in the previous
lecture. We can now recognize that the stomodeum represents the space between the frontonasal
prominence and the 1st pharyngeal arch.

We can also now recognize that the paired 1st pharyngeal arch each bear a pair of prominences –
a rostrally positioned Maxillary Prominence and a more caudal Mandibular Prominence.

IV. FACE FORMATION

Maxillary prominence fuses with medial nasal prominence, pushing the nasal prominences
towards the midline.

Fusion of two medial nasal prominences forms midline portion of nose, philtrum and
premaxilla (a.k.a. primary palate; the portion of maxilla which holds front four teeth).

Maxillary prominence and lateral nasal prominence are still separated by a groove, called the
nasolacrimal groove (which is lined with ectoderm).

The groove forms a solid cord that detaches from the ectoderm and sinks into the developing
face. The cord becomes hollow (canalization) forming the nasolacrimal duct. Its rostral end
enlarges forming the nasolacrimal sac.

Maxillary prominence and lateral nasal prominence fuse, joining the developing cheeks with the
developing nose.

Maxillary prominence and lateral nasal prominence continue to grow to form the
cheeks/maxillae and the alae (sides) of the nose.

V. P ALATE

Two shelf-like outgrowths from the maxillary process appear during the sixth week of
development = Palatine Shelves. The palatine shelves grow caudally on either side of the
tongue.

During the seventh week, the palatine shelves move into a horizontal position above the tongue
and fuse with each other forming the secondary palate (dividing the primitive oral cavity into
oral cavity proper and nasal cavities). Rostrally, the two palatine shelves also fuse with the
primary palate (premaxilla). The point where the two palatine shelves and the primary palate
meet is marked by incisive foramen.

At the same time the palatine shelves fuse, the nasal septum (an outgrowth of the median tissue
of the frontonasal prominence) grows towards the palatine shelves and fuses with them
(separating left and right nasal cavities).

Facial and Palate development is associated with a series of clinically relevant malformations:
e.g., cleft lip, cleft palate, median cleft lip/nose, oblique facial cleft

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Dr. Gabriel Bever Head Development II

VI. SENSORY PLACODES – EYE

Forebrain (diencephalon) region sends out lateral projections of neuroectoderm = optic vesicles.
The vesicles remain connected to the forebrain via the optic stalks.

Both optic vesicles induce a thickening of the neighboring surface ectoderm (cells become more
columnar) called the lens placode.

Optic vesicles invaginate forming a bilayered optic cup (neural and pigmented layers of the
retina).

Lens placode also invaginates and separates from the surface ectoderm to form the lens vesicle.

Optic stalk (connecting the optic cup to the forebrain) is open ventrally and contains a groove
(choroid fissure) that allows the hyaloid artery to feed the growing lens (this artery eventually
degenerates).

During the seventh week the choroid fissure closes, and the optic stalk and its contents are now
called the optic nerve. [failure of the choroid fissure results in a potentially clinically relevant
malformation known as Coloboma]

The developing lens and retina are surrounded by ectomesenchyme (neural crest) that will form
the sclera. The sclera is continuous with the dura mater as it extends onto the optic nerve.

The cornea is an extension of the sclera; and the ectomesenchyme also gives rise to the intrinsic
muscles of the eye – ciliary muscles (control lens shape) and pupillary muscles (control amount
of light entering pupil).

VII. SENSORY PLACODES – EAR

External ear: portion of ear that channels sound to the tympanic membrane

Middle ear: contains the ear ossicles, and transmits sound to inner ear; conducts sound waves
from external ear to inner ear

Inner ear: sensory tissue of cochlea and semicircular canals; converts sound waves to nerve
impulses and registers equilibrium

Inner ear begins as a thickening of ectoderm (actually 6 small thickenings) on either side of the
hindbrain called the otic placode.

The placodes invaginate to form otic vesicles (a.k.a otocysts).

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Dr. Gabriel Bever Head Development II

These will form the cochlear duct (hearing) and endolymphatic ducts (semicircular canals for
balance).
External ear refers to the external auditory meatus, the tympanic membrane, and the auricle
(pinna).

The external auditory meatus develops from the 1st pharyngeal cleft

The auricle develops from six neural-crest swellings at the dorsal ends of the 1st and 2nd
pharyngeal arches.

The tympanic membrane develops from

a. Ectodermal epithelium lining the external auditory meatus
b. Endoderm epithelium lining the tympanic cavity
c. Connective tissue between the other two layers

First pharyngeal pouch (endoderm) elongates to form the tubotympanic recess, which will later
differentiate into an expanded tympanic cavity and a slender auditory tube.

The ear ossicles form as condensations of neural crest from 1st and 2nd pharyngeal arches (1st =
malleus and incus; 2nd stapes).

Endodermal tube expands to encase the ear ossicles.

Because malleus is derived from 1st arch, so is its muscle the tensor tympani m. and hence will
be innervated by CN V (trigeminal n.).

Because the stapes is derived from 2nd arch, so is its muscle the stapedius m. and hence will be
innervated by CN VII (facial n.).

Microtia and Agenesis of the Inner Ear will be discussed as clinically relevant malformations.

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