What is a cleft in anatomy?

What is a cleft in anatomy?

A cleft is an opening, fissure, or V-shaped indentation.

What does cleft lip look like?

Cleft lip and cleft palate may appear as: A split in the lip and roof of the mouth (palate) that affects one or both sides of the face. A split in the lip that appears as only a small notch in the lip or extends from the lip through the upper gum and palate into the bottom of the nose.

What is the difference between cleft lip and cleft palate?

A cleft lip is an opening in the lip, typically the upper lip. These clefts are more commonly unilateral (on one side of the lip) as compared to bilateral (on both sides of the lip). Unilateral clefts occur more frequently on the left side of the mouth. A cleft palate is an opening on the roof of the mouth.

How do cleft lips happen?

A cleft lip happens if the tissue that makes up the lip does not join completely before birth. This results in an opening in the upper lip. The opening in the lip can be a small slit or it can be a large opening that goes through the lip into the nose.

Is cleft lip a birth defect?

Cleft lip and cleft palate are birth defects that occur when a baby’s lip or mouth do not form properly during pregnancy. Together, these birth defects commonly are called “orofacial clefts”.

What is a cleft lip also called?

The cleft lip was long colloquially known as the harelip . In German, the cleft palate was also known as a “Wolfsrachen”, a wolf’s throat. This sort of animal imagery is perceived as degrading by many patients with cleft lip and palate.

What’s the difference between cleft lip and palate?

A cleft, in general, refers to the incomplete or complete fusion of tissue during embryo development. A cleft lip refers to the incomplete or complete fusion of the upper lip skin and muscle, whereas the palate is the hard and soft tissue at the roof of the mouth.

What does cleft lip and palate result from?

Cleft lip and palate result from the incomplete closure of the upper lip and roof of the mouth. This causes a gap or defect to occur in the affected area, involving skin, muscle and the lining of the mouth.

What does cleft mean?

Definition of cleft. (Entry 1 of 2) 1 : a space or opening made by or as if by splitting : fissure. 2 : a usually V-shaped indented formation : a hollow between ridges or protuberances the anal cleft of the human body. cleft.