Critical Reviews in Oral Biology & Medicine, Vol 12, 276-300, Copyright © 2001 by International & American Associations for Dental Research
Regulation of mandibular growth and morphogenesis
M. Mina
Department of Pediatric Dentistry, School of Dental Medicine, University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington 06030, USA. Mina@nso1.uchc.edu
The development of the vertebrate face is a dynamic process that starts
with the formation of facial processes/prominences. Facial processes are
small buds made up of mesenchymal masses enclosed by an epithelial layer
that surround the primitive mouth. The 2 maxillary processes, the 2 lateral
nasal processes, and the frontonasal processes form the upper jaw. The
lower jaw is formed by the 2 mandibular processes. Although the question of
the embryonic origin of facial structures has received considerable
attention, the mechanisms that control differential growth of the facial
processes and patterning of skeletal tissues within these structures have
been difficult to study and still are not well-understood. This has been
partially due to the lack of readily identifiable morphologically discrete
regions in the developing face that regulate patterning of the face.
Nonetheless, in recent years there has been significant progress in the
understanding of the signaling network controlling the patterning and
development of the face (for review, see Richman et al., 1991; Francis-West
et al., 1998). This review focuses on current understanding of the
processes and signaling molecules that are involved in the formation of the
mandibular arch.
