What are cleft lip and cleft palate?

What are cleft lip and cleft palate?

Cleft lip and cleft palate are malformations (defects) in the face and mouth that occur very early in pregnancy, while the baby is developing inside its mother. A cleft results when the tissues do not join together properly.

• A cleft lip is a physical separation of the two sides of the upper lip, and appears as a narrow or wide opening or gap in all layers of the upper lip. This separation can include the gum line or the palate.
• A cleft palate is a split or opening in the roof of the mouth. A cleft palate can involve the hard palate (the bony front portion of the roof of the mouth) and/or the soft palate (the soft back portion of the roof of the mouth), and can be associated with a cleft lip

Cleft lip and cleft palate can occur on one or both sides of the mouth. Because the lip and the palate develop separately, it is possible to have a cleft lip without a cleft palate, a cleft palate without a cleft lip, or both a cleft lip and cleft palate together (the most frequently occurring defect).