Abstract
The cranial base is a multifunctional bony platform within the core of the cranium, spanning rostral to caudal ends. This structure provides support for the brain and skull vault above, serves as a link between the head and the vertebral column below, and seamlessly integrates with the facial skeleton at its rostral end. Unique from the majority of the cranial skeleton, the cranial base develops from a cartilage intermediate—the chondrocranium—through the process of endochondral ossification. Owing to the intimate association of the cranial base with nearly all aspects of the head, congenital birth defects impacting these structures often coincide with anomalies of the cranial base. Despite this critical importance, studies investigating the genetic control of cranial base development and associated disorders lags in comparison to other craniofacial structures. Here, we highlight and review developmental and genetic aspects of the cranial base, including its transition from cartilage to bone, dual embryological origins, and vignettes of transcription factors controlling its formation.
Highlights
The embryonic development of the cranial base begins as a variety of separate cartilages, which fuse to form the singular chondrocranium that eventually undergoes endochondral ossification
In contrast to the experimental accessibility of model organisms, our understanding of the ontogeny of the human cranial base (Figure 2B) is derived from cephalometric analyses of lateral head radiographs of growing individuals; investigation of human fetuses and dry skulls; and recently with the use of three-dimensional computed tomographic (CT) and magnetic resonance image (MRI) scans
This study identified that, in comparison to cranial base length, growth of the maxilla and mandible showed an earlier age of onset but a later age of peak velocity and growth cessation [29]
Summary
Like the cranial vault above, the completed cranial base is a near seamless integration of tissues derived from mesodermal or ectomesenchymal neural crest cell origin. In stark contrast to the calvaria or the neural crest cell derived viscerocranium—which undergo a process of intramembranous ossification—the cranial base implements a ‘long bone strategy’. The embryonic development of the cranial base begins as a variety of separate cartilages, which fuse to form the singular chondrocranium that eventually undergoes endochondral ossification. As such, expanding our knowledge of this concealed structural element will provide broad insight into the development, disruption, and evolution of the craniofacial complex as a whole [1]. Element will provide broad insight into the development, disruption, and evolution of the element will provide insight craniofacial complex asbroad a whole [1]. Graph depicting a keyword search of PubMed databaseshowing showingthe thenumber numberof artiFigure
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