FUNCTIONAL MATRIX HYPOTHESIS [PART 1]

Form follows functions, and hence function determines, controls and regulates form.

The FMH framework is based on 4 concepts (Moss 1962):

1- It considers that the Skull consists of:

Cranial skeletal units whose: ORIGIN, FINAL SIZE, SHAPE, LOCATION and MAINTENANCE are the result of secondary compensatory and obligatory responses to prior demands exerted by their neighbouring NON SKELETAL cells, tissus, organs and operational volumes (These non-skeletal units are considered the so called FUNCTIONAL MATRICES and are the key structure of Skull-Morphogenesis.

2- The second concept: FMH claims that factors and processes regulating Morphogenesis are basically epigenetic (Relating to, or arising from non genetic influences or gene expressions).

3- FMH considers that bone growth occurs through operation of 3 skeletal processes: 

DEPOSITIONS, RESORPTION, MAINTENANCE.

4- A: PERIOSTEAL MATRICES:

They involve skeletal muscles that induce active growth of the bone and thus affect its final size and shape.

    B- CAPSULAR MATRICES:

They consist of soft tissue organs or cavities (e.g. the brain or oral cavity) that cause passive growth (with no deposition nor resorption) This could influence the position of the skeletal units but not their final forms.