Embryonic craniofacial development involves a series of cellular processes that drive patterning, outgrowth, and fusion of a number of independently forming components. The progression of growth and morphogenesis relies on cellular mechanisms such as differentiation, proliferation, migrations, transformation, and apoptosis to form the correct shape and structure in the developing embryo (Figure 1). During craniofacial development, the aforementioned processes are spatiotemporally constrained, allowing for multiple mechanisms within a relatively small region in order to create complex and intricate structures. Failure at any stage risks considerable consequences for the embryo, ranging from slight defects in craniofacial patterning to total inviability.