Cleft lip vs Cleft palate
How to tell Cleft lip and Cleft palate apart when a board question makes them look alike.
Cleft lip is maxillary-medial nasal fusion failure; cleft palate is palatine shelf fusion failure.
Side by side
Cleft lip results from failure of fusion between maxillary prominence and medial nasal prominence, often producing an upper lip defect.
Cleft palate results from failure of palatine shelves to fuse, causing communication between oral and nasal cavities and feeding/speech issues.
Cleft lip results from failure of fusion between maxillary prominence and medial nasal prominence, often producing an upper lip defect.
Cleft palate results from failure of palatine shelves to fuse, causing communication between oral and nasal cavities and feeding/speech issues.
The repair move
Before naming the answer, force the stem through the separator: Cleft lip is maxillary-medial nasal fusion failure; cleft palate is palatine shelf fusion failure.
Try a free question
CoreA newborn has a visible vertical cleft in the upper lip extending into the right nostril, but the palate is intact. The defect resulted from failure of fusion between two embryologic structures. Which fusion failure best explains the isolated cleft lip?
Show answer and explanation
Answer: A. Failure of fusion between the MAXILLARY prominence and the MEDIAL NASAL prominence. Cleft lip results from failure of fusion between the maxillary prominence (derived from first arch) and the medial nasal prominence (derived from frontonasal prominence) during weeks 5-7. Unilateral or bilateral. Risk factors: maternal smoking, alcohol, antiepileptic drugs (phenytoin), folate deficiency.
Why the other choices are tempting
- B. Cleft palate results from failure of palatine shelf fusion, not maxillary-medial nasal prominence.
- C. Failure of fusion between medial nasal and lateral nasal prominences creates oblique facial cleft.
- D. Failure of mandibular prominence fusion is uncommon and creates lower lip defects.
- E. Failure of neural tube closure causes anencephaly or spina bifida, not cleft lip.
Flashcards
Tap a card to flip it.
What clue supports Cleft lip?
Choose Cleft lip when the stem gives this pattern: Cleft lip results from failure of fusion between maxillary prominence and medial nasal prominence, often producing an upper lip defect.
What clue supports Cleft palate?
Choose Cleft palate when the stem gives this contrasting pattern: Cleft palate results from failure of palatine shelves to fuse, causing communication between oral and nasal cavities and feeding/speech issues.
Quick answers
What is the fastest way to tell Cleft lip from Cleft palate?
Cleft lip is maxillary-medial nasal fusion failure; cleft palate is palatine shelf fusion failure.
What is the key clue for Cleft lip?
Cleft lip results from failure of fusion between maxillary prominence and medial nasal prominence, often producing an upper lip defect.
What is the key clue for Cleft palate?
Cleft palate results from failure of palatine shelves to fuse, causing communication between oral and nasal cavities and feeding/speech issues.