Final answer:
The shape of a face is determined by 14 facial bones and the attached facial muscles. These bones and muscles undergo significant development from birth through childhood, shaping the face.
Step-by-step explanation:
The shape of a person's face is primarily determined by the underlying facial bones and the muscles that attach to them. There are 14 facial bones that form the structure of the face, provide cavities for the sense organs, and serve as attachment points for the facial muscles. These bones include the nasal bones, the maxillary bones, zygomatic bones, palatine, vomer, lacrimal bones, the inferior nasal conchae, and the mandible. Of these, the mandible and the vomer are unpaired, whereas the others are paired.
The facial development is a dynamic process that changes significantly from birth through childhood. Initially, facial bones like the maxilla and mandible are underdeveloped but they grow rapidly during early childhood, expanding for the appearance of teeth and enlargement of the paranasal sinuses.
Additionally, the facial shape is influenced by the arrangement and function of the facial muscles, which insert into the skin and move it rather than the bones, contributing to facial expressions. The maxillae form the middle part of the face, the mandible forms the lower jaw, and together with other bones, they shape the skiull's facial structure.