Fetal Development of the Orbit

Abstract

Human prenatal development is divided into an embryonic period and a fetal period. Intense organogenetic activity occurs in the embryonic period of prenatal life, while the fetal period is marked by less intense changes. Knowledge of the embryology of the orbit not only allows insights into how normal variations in the orbital structure arise but also provides an understanding of how congenital deformities occur when normal orbital development goes awry. In order to explore our understanding of the developmental anatomy of the orbit during the fetal period of prenatal life, the authors have summarized the major milestones in orbital morphogenesis, a temporally precise and morphogenetically intricate process. This process can be considered as an anatomic series of complex, well-orchestrated changes in morphology as well as a series of complex biochemical and molecular events that coordinate and control the anatomic development. Identifying and linking signaling pathways and regulatory genes linked with normal orbital morphogenesis is a crucial step to offer patients with chronic or incurable orbital diseases effective treatment options in the future.

Zusammenfassung

Die pränatale Entwicklung des Menschen wird in eine Embryonalperiode und eine Fetalperiode unterteilt. Das Wissen über die fetale Entwicklung der Orbita ermöglicht nicht nur Einblicke in die Entstehung normaler Variationen in der Orbitastruktur, sondern liefert auch ein Verständnis dafür, wie angeborene Missbildungen und Anomalien auftreten, wenn die normale Orbitalentwicklung fehlschlägt. Die Autoren haben die Meilensteine in der Orbitalmorphogenese, einem zeitlich genauen und morphogenetisch komplizierten Prozess, zusammengefasst. Dieser Prozess kann als anatomische Reihe komplexer, gut koordinierter Veränderungen der Morphologie sowie als eine Reihe komplexer biochemischer und molekularer Ereignisse betrachtet werden, die die anatomische Entwicklung koordinieren und kontrollieren. Die Identifizierung und Verknüpfung von Signalwegen und regulatorischen Genen, die mit einer normalen orbitalen Morphogenese verbunden sind, ist ein entscheidender Schritt, um Patienten mit chronischen oder unheilbaren Erkrankungen der Orbita in Zukunft wirksame Behandlungsoptionen anbieten zu können.

Key words

embryology - orbitmorphogenesis - anatomical anomalies - milestones

Schlüsselwörter

Embryologie - Orbitamorphogenese - anatomische Anomalien - Meilensteine

Publication History

Received: 08 September 2021

Accepted: 07 December 2021

Article published online:
04 February 2022

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