The starting sequence demonstrates the formation of the external shape of the face through the fusion of the frontonasal prominence and its derivatives with the maxillary prominence and the mandibular arch. The first diagram shows the head of an approximately 26-day-old embryo in 3D. The stomodeum, frontonasal prominence, olfactory placode, buccopharyngeal membrane, maxillary prominence, 1st and 2nd pharyngeal arches, and the 1st pharyngeal clefts are shown. An uniterrupted sequence, ending with an approximately 10-week-old fetus, animates the formation of the forehead, eyes, nose, alae of nose, nostrils, philtrum, cheeks, upper and lower lips.

The next sequence begins with the development of the external form of the face. The first diagram shows the head of an approximately 26-day-old embryo. Various frames distinguish the olfactory placode, 1st pharyngeal (mandibular) arch and the maxillary prominence.

An approximately 5-week-old embryo illustrates the development of the frontonasal prominence, medial and lateral nasal prominences, maxillary and mandibular prominences. In addition, the nasolacrimal groove, hyoid arch, 1st pharyngeal cleft and the stomodeum are shown.

The next sequence shows the merging of the maxillary prominence with the medial nasal prominence to form the upper lip in an approximately 7-week-old embryo. The eye, nasolacrimal groove, future filtrum, lateral nasal prominence, auricular hillocks, 1st pharyngeal cleft and the mandibular prominence are also shown.

The last sequence of this series shows the development of the shape of the face for an approximately 10-week-old fetus.

A detailed diagram lists the derivatives of all facial prominences.

The next sequences show the development of the palate as seen in a frontal (coronal) section. The head of an approximately 7-week-old embryo is cut at eye level, and the anterior cut segment moved away. The diagram indicates the nasal septum, oronasal cavity, tongue, palatine shelf (palatal process), eye, skull, brain hemispheres, olfactory fibres and the skin. The downward movement of the tongue provokes the palatine shelves to ascend and attain a horizontal position above the tongue. Next, the palatine shelves fuse to form the secondary palate, dividing the oronasal cavity into the nasal and oral cavities. All of these events are animated for an approximately 8-week-old fetus and an approximately 10-week-od fetus. The fusion of the nasal septum with the secondary palate, the development of nasal conchae and the occurence of the enamel organs are also shown.

To demonstrate the development of the palate, the head of an approximately 7-week-old embryo is cut horizontally at the level of the maxillary prominence. A portion of the head is pushed back to expose the maxillary prominences, gum, palatine shelves, intermaxillary segment (primary palate, upper jaw segment, philtrum), nasal septum and the oronasal cavity. The next sequence shows the fusion of the intermaxillary segment with the maxillary prominences and the fusion of the two palatine shelves in approximately 9- and 12-week-old fetuses. The last diagram shows the raphe palati, uvula, foramen incisivum, primary and secondary palate, and several other legends.

With two exceptions, all malformations of the face are animated. They are divided into malformations of the face (unilateral cleft lip, unilateral oblique facial cleft, bilateral cleft lip, medial cleft lip*, and bilateral oblique facial clefts*) and malformations of the palate (normal development compared with the unilateral cleft lip and cleft jaw, bilateral cleft lip and cleft jaw, midline cleft palate, cleft lip, cleft jaw and cleft palate = cheilognatopalatoschisis).

(This animation is essential for students of medicine, stomatology, veterinary medicine, biology and for departments of anatomy, histology, embryology and cell biology; it is also recommended for departments or clinics of otorhinolaryngology, maxillofacial surgery, pediatrics, and pediatric surgery.)