# Face Creator (DD-465)

> 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.

- Department: Science
- First published: 2025-01-22
- Last updated: 2025-01-22
- Permalink: https://detailenjoyer.com/case/face-creator/
- Author: Marcus Easterling (DetailEnjoyer), The Detail Department

## Quick facts

- **DD-465-F01**: Around week four. _(Write-up · Exhibit A (Start))_
- **DD-465-F02**: Neural crest cells. _(Write-up · Exhibit B (Cells))_

## Write-up

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

1. **Start**: Around week four.
2. **Cells**: Neural crest cells.
3. **Pieces**: Five prominences.
4. **Weeks 6-8**: Nose, mouth, eyes.
5. **Palate**: Two shelves fuse.

## Related case files

- [Embryonic Development (DD-333)](https://detailenjoyer.com/case/embryonic-development/): I linked more on how embryos develop

## Reel vs. record

- **Note**: None needed.

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

- Duration: 30.6 s · Published: 2025-01-22
- File: https://detailenjoyer.com/assets/videos/DFJ8pwPu27H.mp4

### Transcript

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!

## Questions & answers

**Q: Which cells migrate?**  
A: Embryo. _(Source: Write-up · Exhibit A (Start) · Wikipedia: Human embryonic development)_

**Q: How many segments?**  
A: Prominences. _(Source: Write-up · Exhibit B (Cells) · Wikipedia: Human embryonic development)_

**Q: When does it start?**  
A: Early. _(Source: Write-up · Exhibit C (Pieces) · Wikipedia: Human embryonic development)_

**Q: What fuses at midline?**  
A: Roof of mouth. _(Source: Write-up · Exhibit D (Weeks 6-8) · Wikipedia: Human embryonic development)_

**Q: Largely complete by?**  
A: Twelve weeks. _(Source: Write-up · Exhibit E (Palate) · Wikipedia: Human embryonic development)_

## Sources

- [Wikipedia: Human embryonic development](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/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/