Bone remodeling of the human mandible during prenatal development.

Material and Method: Based on histological serial sections of human fetuses (22-117 mm crown-rump length) the remodeling of the bone surfaces of the fetal mandible was characterized and visualized in 3D reconstructions.
Results: In the embryo of 22 mm crown-rump length the mandible was completely covered by cells producing bone apposition, but beginning with the embryo of 25 mm crown-rump length, morphological differentiations of these cells leading to bone modeling were visible. These modeling processes were found to be much more complicated than described in the literature so far.
Conclusion: Bone growth of the fetal mandible is a complex process comprising not only lingual resorption and buccal apposition. Instead, we found well differentiated remodeling processes, represented by variable portions of apposition, resorption and resting areas seamed by lining cells.