Development, Patterning, and Evolution of Craniofacial Musculature

The craniofacial musculature is one of the most complex and evolutionarily dynamic muscle systems in vertebrates. It supports feeding, breathing, and vocalization, and in mammals, especially primates, it also supports facial expression and social communication. Unlike most trunk and limb muscles, craniofacial muscles arise from distinct cranial mesoderm-derived progenitor populations and are patterned through close interactions with neural crest–derived connective tissues, cranial nerves, and the developing craniofacial skeleton. These features make them a strong model for studying how tissues are patterned, how homologous structures diverge, and how new functions evolve.However, knowledge remains fragmented across developmental biology, comparative and evolutionary anatomy, neuroanatomy, and imaging. Terminology and muscle identification vary between species. Anatomical variants are often described without developmental context, and links between embryonic patterning, adult morphology, and functional diversity are rarely tested directly. Better access to comparative specimens, 3D imaging, and quantitative morphology now offers a chance to connect these fields.This Research Topic aims to bring together studies that explain how craniofacial muscles develop, how they are patterned, and how they have diversified across vertebrates. We welcome work on model organisms, fetal and ontogenetic material, comparative specimens, and human anatomy. We are especially interested in studies that connect developmental mechanisms to evolutionary and functional outcomes. Both original research and review articles are welcome.We welcome submissions addressing, but not limited to, the following themes: • Embryonic origins, specification, and differentiation of branchiomeric, mimetic, masticatory, and extraocular muscles • Muscle–connective tissue, muscle–tendon, and muscle–skeleton interactions during craniofacial morphogenesis • Cranial nerve–muscle interactions, including facial nerve branching and intramuscular innervation patterns • Comparative anatomy and homology of facial, perioral, and masticatory muscles across vertebrates, including primates • Anatomical variation as evidence of developmental processes, constraints, and plasticity• Evolutionary innovation in craniofacial musculature linked to feeding, vocalization, and facial communication • Ontogenetic and fetal studies of craniofacial muscle growth and architecture • Imaging, 3D reconstruction, staining, and quantitative approaches, such as contrast-enhanced micro-CT, Sihler staining, morphometrics, and network-based analyses • Harmonized terminology and classification grounded in developmental and comparative evidence • Gene-regulatory and signaling mechanisms controlling cranial muscle development • Lineage tracing, single-cell and spatial omics, and integrative multimodal approaches • Development of muscle architecture, fibre composition, neuromuscular relationships, and intramuscular connective tissueClinical and surgical relevance is welcome where it follows from developmental, evolutionary, or morphological questions. Studies focused mainly on clinical outcomes or surgical technique fall outside the scope of this collection. Topic editors: Ingrid C. Landfald, MARIA PIAGKOU, Łukasz Olewnik Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/86800/development-patterning-and-evolution-of-craniofacial-musculature