title: Effect of unilateral function on craniofacial growth.
abstract: The present study is aimed at experimental research of the effects of functional matrices upon the formation of functional units. The sample consisted of 15 experimental dogs (five dogs per each experiment) and five controls. Three experiments were carried out: neurectomy of the right mandibular nerve, circumvention of the right nostril and enucleation of the right eyeball. The results showed no statistically significant difference between age and animal sacrifice time interval. The controls manifested the significant differences in the length, breadth and height of the upper mandibular body consistent with their natural asymmetry. Neurectomy of the right mandibular nerve did not manifest statistically significant differences whereas the sample was too small, animal sacrifice time interval too short and passive movements of that mandibular side were still present after the operation. Circumvention of the right nostril revealed in the nasal opening breadth, which for the very nature of the operation and only a partial exclusion of the right side function could have been anticipated. Enucleation of the right eyeball eliminated the visual function in the right face causing changes in the midface, i. e. in the breadth and height of the nostril. The findings confirmed the initial assumption on the correlation between the removal of potential growth factors and increase of the opposite face parameters. The changes were most prominent in the mid of the head which can be related to its developmental and structural features.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Buković
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Radionov
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Verzak
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Lulić-Dukić
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Azinović
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Bagić
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004285:Dogs; D008340:Mandibular Nerve / Q000601:surgery; D008445:Maxillofacial Development; D013508:Ophthalmologic Surgical Procedures; D012886:Skull / Q000254:growth & development*