Q37: Cleft palate with cleft lip

Q37.3: Cleft soft palate with unilateral cleft lip

The palate is the roof of the mouth. The front of the palate consists of a bone plate, the hard palate. At the rear, the palate transitions into the soft palate. At the back of the palate, in the middle, hangs the uvula. To the side of this are the palatine arches.

The face is another part of the body to develop in the womb before birth. First of all, several parts are created for the lips, the upper jaw and the palate. These individual parts then merge. If this process is disrupted at any point, then one or more clefts may remain in the lips, the upper jaw or the palate.

A cleft in the palate and the lip can affect eating and drinking. You may also have problems with speaking. Ears may also get infected more frequently. A cleft in the palate and the lip can disrupt the natural ventilation of the middle ears. The middle ears are connected to the throat. This connection helps to ventilate the middle ears.

Clefts in the palate and the lip can be hereditary. Other family members can also be affected.