Abnormal vomer development in human fetuses with isolated cleft palate.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to elucidate the prenatal human development of the vomer with emphasis on the vomeral footplate and to assess vomeral morphology in fetuses with isolated cleft palate.


METHODS
Nine human fetuses of which four were normal (menstrual age [MA] 13 to 21 weeks) and five with isolated cleft palate (14 to 19 weeks MA) were studied. Midaxial cranial tissue blocks from the fetuses were cut frontally in 4microm serial sections. Sections were stained with toluidine blue in 30% ethanol.


RESULTS
From 16 weeks MA, the vomeral footplate of normal fetuses was formed from bilateral ossifications located below a U-shaped vomeral body. Later in development, an osseous connection was found between the footplate and the vomeral body. Neither bilateral areas of ossification below the vomer nor a vomeral footplate was observed in isolated cleft palate fetuses.


CONCLUSIONS
In normal fetuses, the base or footplate of the vomeral bone appears from 16 weeks MA in frontal sections. In fetuses with isolated cleft palates, with no connection between the nasal septum and the maxillary processes, this vomeral footplate does not develop in the period observed (14 to 19 weeks MA).
Hansen
Lene
L
Department of Orthodontics, School of Dentistry, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Copenhagen, DK-2200 Copenhagen N, Denmark.
Nolting
Dorrit
D
Holm
Gitte
G
Hansen
Birgit Fischer
BF
Kjaer
Inger
I
D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002972:Cleft Palate / Q000196:embryology*; D047109:Fetal Development; D005333:Fetus; D006801:Humans; D009300:Nasal Septum / Q000196:embryology*