Q37: Cleft palate with cleft lip
Q37.5: Cleft hard and 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 hard and soft palate and in the lip is also called cleft lip and palate or orofacial clefts.
A cleft lip and palate can affect eating and drinking. You may also have problems with speaking. Ears may also get infected more frequently. A cleft lip and palate 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.
Cleft lips and palates can be hereditary. Other family members can also be affected.
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