Cleft Lip and Palate

These flashcards cover key vocabulary related to cleft lip and palate, including anatomical terms, classification, etiologies, and management considerations.

Cleft Lip

A congenital split or opening in the upper lip.

Cleft Palate

A congenital split or opening in the roof of the mouth.

Velopharyngeal Mechanism

Combination of the velum and the muscles of the pharyngeal area acting as a valve for oral and nasal cavities.

VP Incompetence (VPI)

Inadequate closure of the velopharyngeal port during speech and swallowing.

Bifid Uvula

A condition where the uvula is split, which may indicate a submucous cleft.

Incidence of Clefts

Occurs in 1 in every 750 live births.

Unilateral Cleft

A cleft occurring on one side of the lip or palate.

Bilateral Cleft

A cleft occurring on both sides of the lip or palate.

Submucous Cleft

A cleft where the surface tissue is intact but the underlying muscle is not properly formed.

Pierre-Robin Syndrome

A genetic disorder that can lead to a cleft lip and palate.

Treacher-Collin Syndrome

A genetic disorder characterized by deformities of the ear, face, and skull often associated with clefts.

Trisomy 13

A chromosomal disorder that can result in cleft lip and/or palate.

Velum

The soft tissue at the back of the mouth that separates the oral cavity from the nasal cavity.

Embryological Period

The weeks during which the face and palate develop, specifically from weeks 3-12.

Communication Problems

Issues faced by individuals with cleft lip and/or palate that impact their speech.

Management Issues

Challenges that arise in the healthcare management of individuals with clefts.

Cleft Palate Team

A multidisciplinary team that includes SLPs, surgeons, dental specialists, and audiologists to address cleft-related care.

Cleft Frequency in Males

Clefts of the lip occur approximately two times as frequently in males than females.

Cleft Frequency in Females

Clefts of the palate occur more frequently in females than males.

End of 12th Week

The point in embryonic development when complete fusion of the palate is typically achieved.

Genetic Disorders

Inherited conditions that can lead to the development of clefts.

Teratogenically Induced Disorders

Clefts that arise from environmental exposures during pregnancy.

Mechanical Induced Abnormalities

Physical disruptions that can lead to clefts during development.

Hard Palate

The anterior two-thirds of the palate, made of bony plates fused along the midline.

Soft Palate

The posterior one-third of the palate, consisting of muscular and mucosal tissue.

Communication Challenges

Difficulties individuals with clefts may face in producing speech sounds.

Plosives

Speech sounds that require the VP port to be closed, such as p, b, t, d.

Palatal Shelves

Structures that fuse to form the hard and soft palate during embryonic development.

American Indians/Native Americans

The population group with the highest incidence of clefts in the US.

Audiologists

Healthcare professionals who assess, diagnose, and treat hearing disorders in patients with clefts.

Developmental Disruptions

Abnormalities that occur during the fusion of palatal shelves, potentially resulting in clefts.