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Face Creator

Short answer: Facial development begins around the fourth week of pregnancy, when neural crest cells migrate into the head region. The face starts as five tissue swellings, the facial prominences, that grow toward each other and fuse.

Between weeks six and eight the nose, mouth and eyes take shape, and the palate forms from two shelves that grow inward and join at the midline. The footage, credited to DamnThatsInteresting, shows an animation of the face forming.

VideoWrite-up1 sources

In collections:Inside the Body

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What should you know about Face Creator?

Quick facts. Each one stands alone and has a stable ID you can cite.

  1. Around week four.

    DD-465-F01 · Write-up · Exhibit A (Start)

  2. Neural crest cells.

    DD-465-F02 · Write-up · Exhibit B (Cells)

Video transcript: Face Creator: The Human Face Starts as Separate Pieces That Grow Together

Did you know, the development of the human face in the womb is a complex process that begins in the early weeks of gestation and is largely complete by the end of the first trimester. Around the fourth week of pregnancy, neural crest cells migrate to form the structures that will shape the face. Initially, the face consists of five distinct tissue segments. As these segments grow, they move closer together and begin to fuse. By weeks six to eight, the basic shape of the nose, mouth, and eyes starts to emerge. The nasal cavities deepen and the palate or roof of the mouth forms from two plates that grow inward and join in the center. NOW YOU KNOW!

Burned-in captions, read frame by frame (see transcript.md) · 30.6s Reel ·

Video coming soonFace Creator · Instagram Reel
Face Creator: The Human Face Starts as Separate Pieces That Grow Together Instagram Reel · · 30.6s

The write-up

The human face starts as separate pieces that grow together. Most of it forms in the first trimester.

  1. Exhibit A

    Start

    Around week four.

  2. Exhibit B

    Cells

    Neural crest cells.

  3. Exhibit C

    Pieces

    Five prominences.

  4. Exhibit D

    Weeks 6-8

    Nose, mouth, eyes.

  5. Exhibit E

    Palate

    Two shelves fuse.

Questions people ask about Face Creator

Which cells migrate?

Embryo.

Source: Write-up · Exhibit A (Start) · Wikipedia: Human embryonic development

How many segments?

Prominences.

Source: Write-up · Exhibit B (Cells) · Wikipedia: Human embryonic development

When does it start?

Early.

Source: Write-up · Exhibit C (Pieces) · Wikipedia: Human embryonic development

What fuses at midline?

Roof of mouth.

Source: Write-up · Exhibit D (Weeks 6-8) · Wikipedia: Human embryonic development

Largely complete by?

Twelve weeks.

Source: Write-up · Exhibit E (Palate) · Wikipedia: Human embryonic development

Test Your Knowledge

All quizzes →

5 questions, all from this case file. Answers are revealed instantly.

  1. Which cells migrate?

    1. Neural crest
    2. Red blood
    3. Muscle
    4. Fat
    Show the answer

    Answer: A. Neural crest Embryo. Source: Write-up · Exhibit A (Start) · Wikipedia: Human embryonic development

  2. How many segments?

    1. Five
    2. Two
    3. Ten
    4. One
    Show the answer

    Answer: A. Five Prominences. Source: Write-up · Exhibit B (Cells) · Wikipedia: Human embryonic development

  3. When does it start?

    1. Week four
    2. Month six
    3. Birth
    4. Week twenty
    Show the answer

    Answer: A. Week four Early. Source: Write-up · Exhibit C (Pieces) · Wikipedia: Human embryonic development

  4. What fuses at midline?

    1. Palate
    2. Ears
    3. Eyes
    4. Hair
    Show the answer

    Answer: A. Palate Roof of mouth. Source: Write-up · Exhibit D (Weeks 6-8) · Wikipedia: Human embryonic development

  5. Largely complete by?

    1. First trimester end
    2. Birth
    3. Age two
    4. Week two
    Show the answer

    Answer: A. First trimester end Twelve weeks. Source: Write-up · Exhibit E (Palate) · Wikipedia: Human embryonic development

Cite this case file

Easterling, Marcus. "Face Creator." The Detail Department (DetailEnjoyer), case file DD-465, last updated Jan 22, 2025. https://detailenjoyer.com/case/face-creator/

Permalink: https://detailenjoyer.com/case/face-creator/ · Last updated

Markdown version

Cite a single fact by its ID, for example DD-465-F01 → https://detailenjoyer.com/case/face-creator/#DD-465-F01

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