Normal facial development enables individuals to perform critical auditory, visual, breathing, masticatory, expressive, and vocal functions. Facial primordia appears near the mouth's future site in the 4th week of development. Henceforth, facial development becomes a complex process involving the formation of various primordial tissues.
Many congenital facial anomalies have genetic causes, though some arise from preventable teratogen exposures. Developmental facial abnormalities can be disfiguring and devastating. The treatment of congenital facial disorders is often delayed until after birth because they are well-tolerated in utero.
Copyright © 2024, StatPearls Publishing LLC.