Cleft Lip and Cleft Palate

Clefts of the lip (cheiloschisis) and palate (palatoschisis) are congenital anomalies that affect feeding, hearing, speech, facial form, and dental development. Understanding cleft anatomy, lip and palate development, and epidemiology and genetics of clefting is essential to the care of children with orofacial clefts. This entry first discusses the anatomy, embryology, and epidemiology of cleft lip and cleft palate and their associations and etiology, including their association with intellectual and developmental issues. It then describes the clinical management of these anomalies.

Anatomy, Embryology, and Epidemiology

Lip Anatomy

Functions of the upper lip include expression, articulation, and contributing to the oral sphincter. In cases of cleft lip (CL), tissue is distorted rather than deficient, and there is a gap at the position of the philtral column. CL is classified ...

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