Embryonic Development of the Head Mesenchyme:
The head mesenchyme is mesenchyme which primarily originates from a mixture of cranial neural crest and head mesoderm (paraxial and splanchnic mesoderm) cells. These cells populate the forming branchial arches (BAs) and eventually give rise to the skeletal elements (membranous and endochondral skull and facial bones) ,connective tissue, and musculature of the vertebrate head.