Cleft lip and cleft palate

Cleft Lip and Cleft Palate

Cleft lip and cleft palate are types of birth defects that affect the upper lip and roof of the mouth.

Pronunciation

Cleft Lip: /klɛft lɪp/ Cleft Palate: /klɛft ˈpælɪt/

Etymology

The term "cleft" comes from the Old English "cleofan" meaning to split or divide. "Lip" and "palate" are derived from the Old English "lippa" and Latin "palatum" respectively.

Description

A cleft lip is a physical split or separation of the two sides of the upper lip and appears as a narrow opening or gap in the skin of the upper lip. This separation often extends beyond the base of the nose and includes the bones of the upper jaw and/or upper gum.

A cleft palate is a split or opening in the roof of the mouth. A cleft palate can involve the hard palate (the bony front portion of the roof of the mouth), and/or the soft palate (the soft back portion of the roof of the mouth).

Causes

Cleft lip and cleft palate occur when tissues in the baby's face and mouth don't fuse properly. Normally, the tissues that make up the lip and palate fuse together in the second and third months of pregnancy. But in babies with cleft lip and cleft palate, the fusion never takes place or occurs only part way, leaving an opening (cleft).

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Cleft lip and cleft palate