Secondary Palate Development

During 7-8th week of IUL, descent of the tongue leads to elevation of

the lateral palatal shelves. Numerous hypotheses have been put forth to
explain the phenomenon of palatal elevation, that precedes by a week
in boys. The elevation of vertical palatal shelves to a horizontal
position starts around 7th week of IUL and the phenomenon has been
ascribed to withdrawal of developing face from the heart prominence.
Head is bent over the heart prominence; elevation of the face facilitates
growth of mandible thus increasing the volume of oral cavity. Tongue
senses the increase in space and descends down leading to elevation of
palatal shelves (Fig. 3.14).
The elevation of palatal shelves may also be due to the change in the
biochemistry of oral cavity; change in physical consistency of
connective tissue; variation in vasculature and blood flow; rapid
differential mitotic growth; intrinsic shelf force; change in pressure
between nasal and oral region due to tongue contraction and
movements.
After palatal elevation, the lateral palatal shelves approximate with
member of the opposite side, the nasal septum above and primary
palate (ingrowth of frontonasal process) in front. The palatal shelves
swing from vertical to horizontal position. The fusion of palatal shelves
does not start from the anterior terminus rather it begins about 1/3rd the
distance from anterior margin at the future site of incisive papilla.
Fusion proceeds both anteriorly and posteriorly from that region.
Fusion starts at 8th week and is complete by about 12th week of IUL.
Nasal septum fuses with palate only anteriorly, in
Fig. 3.13: Developing secondary palate. The palatal shelves are vertically
oriented with the intervening tongue that extends till the roof of oral cavity

Fig. 3.14: Elevation of palate. Descent of the tongue leads to elevation of palatal
shelves

the posterior region, the soft palate and uvula remains free. Fusion at
first is only epithelial, the epithelial layers are thickened and they
approximate and fuse to form a single layer of epithelium. The
sequences of events are given in Flow chart 3.5.
The disintegration or degeneration of epithelium is a highly ordered
process. It is actually programmed cell death or apoptosis. The site of
fusion is the future

For Personal Use Only Library of School of Dentistry, TUMS

42 Textbook of Craniofacial Growth
Flow chart 3.5: Palatal elevation:

Sequence of events

midpalatal suture. Ossification starts by 8th week of IUL. There is only

one center of ossification for each maxilla. Posterior part of the palate
receives ossification center from the palatine bone. Posterior most part
remains unossified as soft palate and uvula. Initially, the palatal arch is
very shallow, the depth is gained postnatally. From 7-18 weeks, palate
increases in length. At 4th month, palate grows more in width along the
midpalatal suture than length so that the width and length at birth are
almost equal. Deepening of palatal vault occurs postnatally by
apposition at the alveolar margin and the palatal vault.
Development of Mandible
Mandible, derived from the 1st arch, arises as bilateral processes that
grow ventr