Cleft Lip and Cleft Palate
DEFINITION
The term "cleft" refers to an opening. An opening in the lip is called cleft
lip. An opening in the roof of the mouth (palate) is called cleft palate.
The separate parts that form a baby's face and palate come together during early
pregnancy. A cleft occurs if the parts do not fuse completely.
HOW COMMON ARE CLEFTS?
One out of every 600 babies has some form of cleft lip or cleft palate.
HOW DO CLEFTS AFFECT A BABY'S FACE?
A lip may have a cleft on one side of the upper lip or on both sides. The split sometimes
occurs only on the lip, but at times it may extend up into the nose. In the case of a
cleft palate, the soft part of the palate at the back of the throat may be involved, or
the cleft may extend forward to the bony part of the palate called the hard palate. A baby
may have a cleft lip or a cleft palate, or both.
MYTHS ABOUT CLEFT LIP AND CLEFT PALATE
At one time people thought that if a pregnant woman had bad or frightening thoughts, or if
she encountered gypsies or a fish with a gaping mouth, she would have a baby with a cleft.
We now know these stories are not true.
Cleft lip used to be referred as a hare lip because it was thought to look like the upper
lip to a rabbit's lip. The term hare lip should not be used. The defect should be referred
to as cleft lip.
