THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN MECKEL CARTILAGE AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE HUMAN FETAL MANDIBLE

This work studied the development of the ventral part of Meckel's cart ilage and its relationship to the morphogenesis of the mandible in a s eries of human fetuses. The development of the cartilage was followed up to the end of the embryonic period (stage 23, 8th week) when the pr imary ossification centre, which was formed from a condensation of emb ryonic mesenchyme, had become two bony plates forming a trough in whic h lay the neurovascular bundle. From this trough invagination of the b ony plate formed the dental crypt. The primary ossification centre dis appeared around the sixth month of fetal life.