The relationship between Meckel's cartilage and the development of the human fetal mandible.

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