A Systematic Approach of the Intrauterine Morphogenesis of the Human Palpebral Apparatus

ABSTRACT

The human eyelid embodies a vast diversity of functions. Acting as a protective shield for the ocular apparatus and as a light regulator in the sight process, eyelids stand a fascinating – yet omitted – role in facial aesthetics, serving as a racial trait by which humankind succeeded to manifest heterogeneity as a species. These assumptions are precisely forecasted right from in-utero life through intricate processes of growth and cell differentiation. In the Department of Anatomy of “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, we performed morphological assessments on 41 embryos and fetuses with gestational ages ranging from 6 to 29 weeks. This study aims to illustrate the morphogenesis of eyelids in human embryos and fetuses and highlight macroscopic features which could potentially have significant clinical implications in ophthalmic pathology.

KEYWORDS:

• embryology
• eyelid
• palpebral apparatus
• development
• anatomy
• morphogenesis

Author contributions

Conceptualization, OM and FMF; methodology, OM, MMC and REB; formal analysis, AD, AIB, MAP, IAP; investigation, TAG, AD, AIB, MAP and IAP; resources, REB, MMC; writing—original draft preparation, OM, FMF and IAP; writing—review and editing, OM, TAG, IAP; visualization, REB; supervision, OM, FMF and MMC. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.

Institutional review board statement

The study was conducted according to the guidelines of the Declaration of Helsinki. We gathered written consent from all patients who consented to have their aborted fetuses utilized in the study. The Morphological Science Department of the “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy has given its permission to the study.

Informed consent statement

Informed consent was obtained from all subjects involved in the study.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

The research received no external funding.