Cleft Medical Dictionary

This medical dictionary is designed to provide clear, concise definitions of terms related to cleft lip and palate, a congenital condition that affects the upper lip and/or the roof of the mouth (palate). It aims to serve as an accessible resource for healthcare providers, researchers, students, and individuals affected by the condition, offering accurate information on medical terminology, procedures, and treatment options.

We will continue to add to this dictionary as we discover additional words.

Term	Definition
ABG Protocol (Arterial Blood Gas)	A medical test used to assess respiratory function and oxygenation, often performed in patients with clefts to monitor for respiratory distress.
Adenoids	Similar to tonsils but located higher up in the back of your nose. They also help protect your body from germs.
Alveolar Grafting	A surgical procedure that involves placing bone into the alveolar ridge to close clefts and prepare for dental implants.
Apert Syndrome	A genetic condition characterized by early fusion of skull bones (craniosynostosis), cleft palate, and fusion of fingers and toes (syndactyly).
Auditory Nerve	The nerve that carries sound signals from the cochlea to your brain, where they’re recognized as sound.
Auditory Tube	Another name for the Eustachian tube. It connects the middle ear to the throat and helps regulate pressure.
Auricle (Pinna)	The outer part of your ear that you can see. It helps collect sound and send it into the ear canal.
Autosomal Dominant Pattern	This means that a trait or condition is passed down from one parent to their child. If one parent has it, there's a 50% chance the child will have it too. It's like flipping a coin—heads or tails, but in genetics.
Bilateral	This means something happens on both sides of the body. If a person has a cleft lip on both sides, it's called bilateral.
Buccal	Refers to the inside of your cheeks. Buccal refers to anything related to the sides of your mouth.
Canines (Cuspid Teeth)	The pointy teeth next to your incisors that help tear food. They are also known as "fangs."
Cavity	A hole or decay in a tooth caused by bacteria breaking down the tooth's enamel.
Cheiloplasty	Surgical repair of the cleft lip, typically performed early in infancy to restore normal lip appearance and function.
Choanae	The opening between the nasal cavity and the pharynx. It allows air to flow from the nose into the throat.
Cleft Lip	A congenital gap or opening in the upper lip, which can vary in severity.
Cleft Palate	A congenital opening in the roof of the mouth, often involving the hard and/or soft palate.
Cochlea	A spiral-shaped part inside the inner ear that changes sound vibrations into nerve signals that your brain understands as sound.
Cranial Base	The base of the skull forming the floor of the cranial cavity, may be involved in more complex craniofacial clefts.
Crouzon Syndrome	A craniofacial syndrome involving early fusion of skull bones, causing abnormal head shape, and often cleft lip and palate, with normal intelligence.
Crouzon Syndrome	A craniofacial syndrome involving early fusion of skull bones, causing abnormal head shape, and often cleft lip and palate, with normal intelligence.
Crown	The top, visible part of your tooth, above the gum line, that you use for chewing.
Dentin	The softer, middle part of your tooth under the enamel. It helps support the tooth and carries signals from the nerves.
Enamel	The hard, outer covering of your teeth that protects them from damage and decay.
Epiglottis	A flap of tissue at the top of your trachea that covers it when you swallow food or liquid, preventing choking.
Eustachian Tube	A tube connecting the middle ear to the nasal cavity, which may dysfunction in children with cleft palate.
External Auditory Canal	This is the tube that carries sound from the outer ear to the eardrum. It helps funnel sound into the inner ear.
Frenulum	A small fold of tissue that connects the lip to the gums or the tongue to the mouth, often abnormal in cleft lip.
Frontonasal	This term refers to the area at the front of the face, where the forehead and nose are located. It’s where important facial structures develop during early growth.
Fusion	Fusion means the joining or coming together of two parts or things. For example, in the face, the upper lip or palate may fuse during development.
Gingiva	The scientific term for gums. These are the soft tissues that surround and protect your teeth and help hold them in place.
Glossoptosis	This happens when the tongue is too far back in the mouth, sometimes blocking the airway. It can be a problem for babies who have certain conditions, like a small jaw.
Hard Palate	The bony front part of the roof of the mouth, formed by the maxilla and palatine bones.
Hypopharynx	The lower part of the pharynx that leads to the esophagus and trachea. It helps direct food and air to the right places.
Incisive Foramen	A hole located in the middle of the hard palate, an important landmark in cleft repair.
Incisors	The sharp, front teeth that are used to cut food into smaller pieces.
Labial	Refers to anything related to your lips. For example, labial glands are the small glands inside your lips that help produce saliva.
Laryngectomy	A surgery where the larynx (voice box) is removed, often due to cancer. It can affect the ability to speak.
Laryngopharynx	The bottom part of the pharynx, located behind the larynx (voice box). It directs air to the trachea and food to the esophagus.
Larynx	The organ responsible for voice production, which may require intervention in speech therapy for cleft palate patients.
Larynx (Voice Box)	The part of your throat where your vocal cords are. It helps you speak and protects your windpipe when you swallow.
Laterality	Refers to the presence of a cleft lip or palate on one side (unilateral) or both sides (bilateral).
Lingual	Refers to anything related to the tongue. For example, the lingual nerve carries signals from the tongue to the brain.
Mandible	The lower jawbone that holds the lower teeth; clefts in the maxilla may be associated with mandibular issues.
Mandibular epithelium	This is the layer of cells in the area of your lower jaw (mandible). It helps form the structures of the mouth and jaw, like the teeth and gums
Mastoid Bone	The bone located just behind your ear. It contains air spaces and is part of the skull that helps with hearing.
Maxilla	The upper jawbone, forming part of the palate and the floor of the nasal cavity, often affected in cleft palate.
Maxilla	This is the upper jawbone in your face. It holds your upper teeth and forms part of the roof of your mouth. If you have a cleft palate, the maxilla might not form properly.
Maxilla	The upper jawbone that holds your upper teeth and forms part of the roof of your mouth.
Micrognathia	This is when a baby is born with a very small lower jaw. It can make it hard for the baby to breathe or feed properly. It often happens with other facial problems.
Molars	The large, flat teeth at the back of your mouth that grind and crush food.
Morphogenetic	This word describes the process by which an organism’s shape or structure forms and develops. It's like how a lump of clay changes shape as it’s molded.
Myringotomy	A surgical procedure to make a small hole in the eardrum to drain fluid or relieve pressure in the middle ear.
Nasal Cavity	The hollow space behind the nose, important for breathing; may be altered in cleft lip and palate cases.
Nasal Septum	The structure that divides the nasal cavity into two halves, often misaligned in cleft conditions.
Nasopharynx	This is the upper part of your throat, behind your nose. It helps with breathing and connects your nose to the rest of your throat.
Nonsyndromic	This means a condition or trait that happens by itself, not as part of a group of other symptoms or conditions. For example, a cleft lip without any other problems is nonsyndromic.
Nostrils (Nares)	The two openings in the nose that let air and smells enter and exit the nasal cavity.
Oral Cavity	This is the formal name for your mouth. It's the space where your teeth, tongue, and gums are, and it's involved in eating, speaking, and breathing.
Oral Mucosa	The moist tissue lining your mouth, including the inside of your cheeks, gums, and roof and floor of your mouth.
Orbital	Anything related to the orbit, which is the bony cavity or socket in the skull that holds and protects the eye
Oropharynx	This is the part of your throat that is behind your mouth. It's where food and air travel when you swallow or breathe.
Oropharynx	The middle part of the throat, located behind the mouth. It’s the area where air, food, and liquid pass.
Ossicles	The three tiny bones in the middle ear: malleus (hammer), incus (anvil), and stapes (stirrup). These bones help carry sound from the eardrum to the inner ear.
Otitis Media	An infection or inflammation of the middle ear, often causing pain and sometimes fluid buildup behind the eardrum.
Palatine Bone	The bone in the hard palate that helps form the floor of the nasal cavity, often involved in cleft palate.
Palatine Bones	These are two bones in your mouth that make up part of the roof of your mouth (the hard palate). They help separate your mouth from your nose.
Palatoglossal Arch	The fold of tissue that connects the roof of your mouth (palate) to the sides of your tongue.
Palatopharyngeal Arch	A fold of tissue in your mouth that connects the roof of the mouth to the back of your throat (pharynx).
Palatoplasty	This is a type of surgery used to fix a cleft palate. It’s done to close the gap in the roof of the mouth and make it easier for the person to eat, speak, and breathe.
Parotid Gland	The largest of the salivary glands located near your cheeks, just in front of your ears.
Pendulous	This word describes something that hangs down loosely or is droopy, like a pendulum. In the body, it can refer to things like the uvula or certain skin folds.
Periodontal Ligament	A tissue that connects the root of the tooth to the bone in the jaw, helping to stabilize the tooth.
Pharyngitis	Inflammation or infection of the pharynx, usually caused by a virus or bacteria, which can cause a sore throat.
Pharynx (Throat)	The tube that connects your nose and mouth to the windpipe (trachea) and esophagus. It’s used for breathing, swallowing, and talking.
Phenotype	A phenotype is the physical appearance or traits of an organism, like hair color or eye color. It’s what you can actually see on the outside.
Philtrum	The vertical groove in the middle of the upper lip, which may be incomplete or absent in cleft lip cases.
Pierre Robin Sequence	A congenital condition that includes a cleft palate, a small jaw (micrognathia), and often a displaced tongue (glossoptosis), which can lead to airway problems.
Premolars	Teeth located behind your canines used to crush and grind food.
Primordia	Primordia are the very early stages or parts of something that will eventually develop into a full structure. It’s like the "starting blocks" for parts of your body.
Pulp	The soft, inner part of the tooth that contains nerves and blood vessels.
Rhinoplasty	A surgery to change the shape of the nose or repair damage, such as after an injury or for breathing problems.
Root	The part of the tooth that is beneath the gum line. It holds the tooth in place in the jawbone.
Salivary Glands	The glands in your mouth that produce saliva (spit). They help break down food and keep your mouth moist.
Semicircular Canals	Three looped tubes in the inner ear that help you keep your balance. They detect motion and send information to your brain.
Septoplasty	A surgical procedure to straighten the nasal septum if it’s crooked or causing difficulty breathing.
Septum	The wall of cartilage inside the nose that divides it into two halves. If it’s crooked, it can block airflow.
Sinus Cavities (Sinuses)	Air-filled spaces inside the skull around your nose and eyes. They help warm and filter air and make your head lighter.
Sleep Apnea	A condition where breathing repeatedly stops and starts during sleep, which may be a concern in patients with cleft palate.
Sphenoid Bone	A bone in the skull contributing to the nasal cavity, orbital region, and cranial base, may be implicated in complex clefts.
Stickler Syndrome	A genetic condition leading to cleft palate, joint problems, vision impairment, and hearing loss.
Stickler Syndrome	A genetic condition leading to cleft palate, joint problems, vision impairment, and hearing loss.
Sublingual Gland	A salivary gland located under the tongue.
Submandibular Gland	A salivary gland located beneath the jaw.
Syndactyly	This is when two or more fingers or toes are connected by skin or bone. It can happen when the bones don't fully separate during development.
Syndromic	Syndromic means a condition that happens as part of a group of related symptoms or problems. For example, a syndrome might involve problems in the heart, face, and bones all together.
Teeth	The hard structures in your mouth used to chew food. Teeth come in different types: incisors, canines, premolars, and molars.
Temporal Bone	This is the part of your skull that is near your ears. It protects the ear and helps with hearing and balance. It's located on the sides of your head.
Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ)	The joint that connects your lower jaw (mandible) to your skull. It helps you open and close your mouth.
Tonsillar Pillars	The folds of tissue on either side of the throat, impacted by cleft palate in terms of speech production.
Tonsils	Small, round pieces of tissue in the back of your throat. They help fight infection but can get swollen when you’re sick.
Trachea (Windpipe)	The tube that carries air from your larynx to your lungs. It’s like a road for the air to travel down.
Treacher Collins Syndrome	A genetic disorder that causes facial deformities, including underdeveloped cheekbones, and often cleft lip and palate, due to mutations in the TCOF1 gene.
Treacher Collins Syndrome	A genetic disorder that causes facial deformities, including underdeveloped cheekbones, and often cleft lip and palate, due to mutations in the TCOF1 gene.
Tympanic Membrane (Eardrum)	A thin, flexible membrane that vibrates when sound hits it. The eardrum sends these vibrations to tiny bones in the middle ear.
Tympanometry	A test used to check the function of the eardrum and the middle ear. It helps diagnose ear problems like fluid or infections.
Tympanoplasty	A surgical procedure to repair a hole or tear in the eardrum (tympanic membrane) or other parts of the middle ear.
Unilateral	This means something happens on only one side of the body. For example, if someone has a cleft lip on one side, it's called unilateral.
Uvula	The small, pendulous structure at the back of the soft palate, often split or absent in cleft palate cases.
Van der Woude Syndrome	A genetic disorder characterized by cleft lip and/or palate, often with pits or sinuses in the lower lip. It is inherited in an autosomal dominant pattern.
Variable serum antigens	These are molecules in the blood that can change from person to person, helping the immune system recognize different diseases or infections.
Velopharyngeal Insufficiency (VPI)	A condition where the velum (soft palate) cannot close the gap between the nasopharynx and oropharynx, leading to speech issues.
Vestibule	The part of the inner ear that helps control balance by detecting head movement.
Vomer Bone	The bone that forms part of the nasal septum, which can be affected in cleft conditions.
Wnt pathway	The Wnt pathway is a process in the body that helps control how cells grow and move around. It’s important in shaping body parts during early development.
Zygomatic Arch	The bony arch of the cheek, formed by the zygomatic bone and part of the temporal bone, may be affected in clefts.