A 3D analysis of growth trajectory and integration during early human prenatal facial growth

Significant shape changes in the human facial skeleton occur in the early prenatal period, and understanding this process is critical for studying a myriad of congenital facial anomalies. However, quantifying and visualizing human fetal facial growth has been challenging. Here, we applied quantitati...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Scientific reports 2021-03, Vol.11 (1), p.6867-6867, Article 6867
Main Authors: Katsube, Motoki, Yamada, Shigehito, Utsunomiya, Natsuko, Yamaguchi, Yutaka, Takakuwa, Tetsuya, Yamamoto, Akira, Imai, Hirohiko, Saito, Atsushi, Vora, Siddharth R., Morimoto, Naoki
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
631/136/1455
631/136/1660
631/136/3194
692/698
Embryos
Epigenetics
Fetuses
Health sciences
Humanities and Social Sciences
Magnetic resonance imaging
Mandible
Masseter muscle
Mastication
Medicine
Morphogenesis
Morphology
Morphometry
multidisciplinary
Muscles
Science
Science (multidisciplinary)
University graduates
Zygoma
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Summary:Significant shape changes in the human facial skeleton occur in the early prenatal period, and understanding this process is critical for studying a myriad of congenital facial anomalies. However, quantifying and visualizing human fetal facial growth has been challenging. Here, we applied quantitative geometric morphometrics (GM) to high-resolution magnetic resonance images of human embryo and fetuses, to comprehensively analyze facial growth. We utilized non-linear growth estimation and GM methods to assess integrated epigenetic growth between masticatory muscles and associated bones. Our results show that the growth trajectory of the human face in the early prenatal period follows a curved line with three flexion points. Significant antero-posterior development occurs early, resulting in a shift from a mandibular prognathic to relatively orthognathic appearance, followed by expansion in the lateral direction. Furthermore, during this time, the development of the zygoma and the mandibular ramus is closely integrated with the masseter muscle.
ISSN:2045-2322
2045-2322
DOI:10.1038/s41598-021-85543-5