Pre and Post Natal

Development of Mandible
15.09.2016
Liyana Ghazali

Pre-Natal Development

Mandible derives from 1st pharygngeal arch

Ossifies intramembranously
Second bone to ossify after clavicle
Ossify lateral to Merkels cartilage
Merkels cartilage has close positional
relationship to developing mandible but
makes no contribution.
Ossification centres appearing bilaterally
at bifurcation of inferior Alveolar nerve
into mental and incisive branches

 6th week i.u: begins with condensation of mesenchymal cells

7th week: intramembranous ossification begins in the ossification centre
Bone formation spread rapidly anterior to midline and posteriorly toward the point where
mandibular nerve divides into lingual and inferior alveolar nerve
10th week i.u onwards: 3 secondary growth cartilages appear and development of
muscular attachment
1. condylar cartilage (most important)- Appears at 12th week converted to bone by
endochondral ossification, remnants remain until 2nd decade of life, providing a mechanism
growth of mandible
2. coronoid cartilage- Appears at 16th week, transient growth cartilage, disappear long before
birth
3. symphyseal cartilage obliterated within 1st year of birth
11th week i.u: inferior and superior Joint spaces appear
14th week i.u: endochondral bone appears in condylar cartilage
22th weeks i.u: glenoid fossa and articular eminence formed

Fate of Merkels Cartilage

Its most posterior extremity forms
malleus and incus of inner ear and
sphenomalleolar ligament.
Fibrocellular capsule persists as
sphenomandibular ligament

Post Natal Development

follows a pattern intermediate between
somatic and neural (more towards somatic)
Most occurs as a result of periosteal activity
Before puberty: growth occurs at steady rate 12mm/ year in ramus height
Growth rates double during puberty
Mandibular growth slows to adult level rather
later than maxilla
~17 y.o in females
~19 y.o in males

 Mandible grows downwards and

forwards in relation to cranial base
Achieved by
i. Bone remodeling ( resorption
and deposition)
ii. Cartilaginous growth at condyle

 Muscular processes develop at

angle of mandible and coronoid
process
Alveolar processes develop
vertically to keep pace with eruption
of teeth
As mandible displaced forward,
growth at condylar cartilage fills
in posteriorly
At the same time, periosteal

Ramus of mandible
Posterior margin of vertical ramus- bone laid down
Anterior margin of vertical ramus- bone resorption
Post drift of ramus allows lengthening of dental
arch posteriorly
Vertical ramus: becomes taller to accommodate
increase height of alveolar processes
Remodelling: increase width of mandible esp.
posteriorly
Lengthening of mandible + anterior
remodelling : cause chin to become more prominent

Growth at condylar fills in for mandible following anterior

displacement, whilst shape is maintained by surface
remodelling including posterior drift of ramus

Condyle and ramus elongated in POSTERIOR and

SUPERIOR direction, whilst body of mandible LENGTHENS

Condylar Cartilage
Secondary cartilage that forms within mandibular
condyle at ~10th week i.u
Initially, forms a large carrot-shaped wedge
Later results in a small cap of proliferating
cartilage due to progressive ossification
Represents essential adaptation of mandible
allowing bone growth to occur at condyle which
during function is in compression state.
During function, mandibular condyle undergoes
compressive loading within TMJ, therefore
adaptation is required to allow bone growth.