Projection fetal anatomy of the organs and structures of the lateral facial region and adjacent cervical areas

Abstract

Recently, there has been an increase in the incidence of congenital and acquired pathologies affecting the organs and structures of the head and neck regions. This trend underscores investigators' heightened interest in further elucidating their anatomical variability under both normal and pathological conditions. The determination of the projection relationships among the organs, fasciomuscular, and neurovascular formations of the lateral facial region and adjacent cervical areas was conducted on 22 human fetal specimens aged 4-10 months (81.0-375.0 mm crown-rump length). It was established that the development and establishment of topographic-anatomical relationships among the constituent structures of the lateral facial region and adjacent cervical areas during the human fetal period are under the combined influence of spatiotemporal factors. These factors are associated with the dynamics and close syntopic correlation of the organs, neurovascular, fascial-cellular, and osseous structures of the given regions. Furthermore, a significant individual and age-related anatomical variability of the organs, vessels, and nerves of the lateral facial region and adjacent cervical areas was identified in human fetuses, manifesting as variations in their shape, size, and topography.