Growth of the face and jaws after resection of the septal cartilage in the rabbit

Abstract

Varying amounts of the cartilaginous nasal septum were resected in 15 growing rabbits at 21 days of age. Ten additional rabbits were used as unoperated on and operated on controls. The postoperative survival ranged from 105 to 145 days.Within 60 to 90 days postoperatively, antemortem findings were noted in the experimental animals of a shorter snout and overeruption and malocclusion of the incisors. Postmortem gross findings of the dissected, sectioned and x-rayed skulls of the experimental animals revealed that the snout was shorter and smaller with a severe relative mandibular prognathism, the nasal and premaxillary bones were smaller, the nasal cavity and piriform aperture were smaller than in the control animals. As a result of the shorter snout the upper incisors were lingual to the lower incisors. This was the reverse of the normal findings. In addition, the incisors were overerupted, malaligned and fractured. At the posterior border of the septal defect a marked downward and forward deflection of the nasal bones was noted. This was in contrast to the smoothly curved dorsum of the operated on and unoperated on control animals. The extent and severity of the deformity varied approximately with the extent of the septal defect.In a previous experiment varying amounts of the septovomeral region (including cartilage, vomer and premaxilla) were resected in growing rabbits (Wexler and Sarnat, '61). Seventeen weeks postoperatively the gross findings showed a shorter snout (relative mandibular prognathism) with downward angulation in both the anteroposterior and lateral directions. The incisors were not in occlusion and had overerupted.

Nasal Septal and Premaxillary Developmental Integration: Implications for Facial Reduction in Homo

“…The results of our analysis indicate that the developmental relationship between the nasal septum and premaxilla, as one component of midfacial growth, contributes to variation in adult facial length (e.g., Wexler and Sarnat, 1961;Sarnat and Wexler, 1966;Mooney et al, 1989;Wealthall and Herring, 2006). Our first hypothesis that facial growth restriction has no effect on the length of the nasal septum was indirectly supported by this analysis.…”

In vivo implantation of the mandibular condyle of the rat; an experimental investigation of the growth of the lower jaw

“…The spreading of the bones connected by a suture is, in Scott's view, due to extra-sutural influences, for instance the growing brain, the eyeballs, and the growing cartilage of the basal synchondroses and nasal septum.The cartilaginous structures, in particular,are considered important by this investigator. Thus he sees the cartilaginous nasal septum as a chief factor in the growth of the maxilla, a view shared by Sarnat and Wexler (1966). As regards the significance of the condylar cartilage for the growth of the mandible, here Scott agrees with Weinmann and Sicher, and the other workers mentioned.…”

Endochondral ossification of the mouse nasal septum

“…Most extirpation experiments have shown that removal of all or part of the septal cartilage reduces facial growth, especially in the rostrocaudal direction, or lengthening of the snout (Sarnat and Wexler, 1966;Kvinnsland and Breistein, 1973). However, some extirpation experiments have shown no significant facial growth reductions (Stenstrom and Thilander, 1970;Cupero et al, 2001).…”