Pre-natal Growth and Development

DEVELOPMENT OF NASAL CAVITIES AND PALATE

Thickening of the surface ectoderm on either side of the frontal prominence just above the stomodeum is the first indication of the nasal cavity. These are called the nasal (olfactory) placodes. These placodes begin to invaginate by the 5th week and are called the nasal pits. The placode tissue differentiates into the olfactory epithelium while the general epithelium of the nasal cavity differentiates from the remainder of the surface ectoderm lining the nasal pits. At the end of the second month, as the maxilla develops, a partition between the primitive nasal chambers and the oral cavity begins to form. The anterior aspect of this partition is derived from the area of the upper jaw formed by the medial nasal processes (intermaxillary segment) and is called the primary palate (median palatine process).

The nasal pits invaginate by 1) forward growth of the medial nasal and lateral nasal processes, and, 2) posteroinferior growth of the pits themselves, the placode tissue comes to line the roof of each pit. The pits grow and approach the primitive oral cavity.

Most of the palatine partition, however, is derived from the medial growth of shelf-like processes originating from the maxillary process called the palatine shelves (lateral palatine processes). This segment of the palate is called the secondary palate.

A thin oronasal membrane is located between the pits and the oral cavity. This membrane then ruptures and forms the primitive choanae.

As the secondary palate is formed, the nasal septum grows inferiorly toward it. The nasal septum and the two palatine shelves unite to form separate right and left nasal chambers, an oral cavity, and the definitive choanae.