title: The growth of the nasal septum in the 6-9 week period of foetal development--Warfarin embryopathy offers a new insight into prenatal facial development.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this study was to de the role of the nasal septum in embryonic facial development.
  
  
  METHODS
  Nasal septal growth and facial development were examined in sagittally-sectioned 6-9 week human foetuses and compared to previously published data for later prenatal periods. To complement this data a cephalometric study of a child with untreated warfarin embryopathy was undertaken since a previous study in rats had shown warfarin exposure interferes with septal growth.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results showed that prenatal septal growth was maximal during the 6-9 week period and resulted in the establishment of a facial profile that was maintained until birth. This critical of growth corresponds to the period of warfarin exposure of the human foetus that results warfarin embryopathy. The cephalometric examination of a child with untreated warfarin embryopathy showed a combination of short anterior cranial base and a short maxilla had contributed to a significant retrusion of the maxilla suggestive of failure of the midface to devel the 6-9 week period.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings would support the hypothesis that the nasal septum plays an active role in embryonic midfacial development.
authors.affiliation: Reproductive Toxicology Unit, Institute of Biomedical Research, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Sydney, New South Wales. andrew@anatomy.usyd.edu.au
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Howe
authors.forename: J K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Hawkins
authors.forename: W S
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Webster
mesh_terms: D000014:Abnormalities, Drug-Induced / Q000209:etiology; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000009:adverse effects; D002508:Cephalometry; D002648:Child; D019465:Craniofacial Abnormalities / Q000139:chemically induced; D005145:Face / Q000196:embryology; D047109:Fetal Development / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008437:Maxilla / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000473:pathology; D009300:Nasal Septum / Q000187:drug effects / Q000196:embryology* / Q000473:pathology; D019291:Skull Base / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000473:pathology; D014859:Warfarin / Q000009:adverse effects
chemical_list: D000925:Anticoagulants; D014859:Warfarin