First Branchial Cleft Anomalies: Managing Various Cervico-Facial Anomalies and Otologic Malformations at a large Canadian Referral Centre

Abstract

Background The branchial arches appear as 4 paired arches of tissue at 4 weeks gestational age. The branchial clefts are composed of ectoderm, the pouches are formed of endoderm, while the mesenchyme of the arch will form an artery, nerve, cartilaginous bar, and muscle. With regards to the fi rst branchial arch, the specifi c structures that develop are the maxillary