Is there new knowledge on embryology and functional anatomy of human mimetic muscles and the upper lip?
Breitsprecher L; Fanghnel J; Waite P; Steding G; Gasser R Klinik und Poliklinik für Mund-, Kiefer- und Gesichtschirurgie/Plastische Operationen, Universitätsklinikum Greifswald, Sauerbruchstrasse, 17487 Greifswald. breitlu@uni-greifswald.de BACKGROUND: The great variety of primary cheiloplastic procedures in CLP patients shows that there is disagreement regarding the embryological development of this part of the face, the point selection, skin incision philosophy, and the macroscopic and microscopic functional anatomy of the human muscles of facial expression. We suppose from findings in Asian and African populations that the real embryological development of the upper lip differs from current textbook descriptions. Our own anatomical and embryological investigations serve as a basis for a critical discussion of different techniques of muscle reconstruction, point selection, and skin incision and for a description of an embryologically, functionally, and anatomically oriented operation
