Characteristic forms of the upper part of the oral cavity in newborns withisolated cleft palate

Objective: To determine the functional and morphological compensation of th e lack of integrity in the upper part of the oral cavity in newborns with i solated cleft palate. Integrity of the upper part of the oral cavity is req uired for the effective pumping of amniotic fluid, the essential mode of nu trition in intrauterine life. The adaptation could be seen immediately afte r birth. Materials: Plaster casts of the upper part of the oral cavity in 60 newborn s with isolated cleft palate of various extent and plaster casts of the upp er part of the oral cavity in 27 newborns without cleft were used. A number of surface points were identified and used for a trigonometric morphologic al analysis. Results: The parameters of the upper part of the oral cavity in four groups of newborns with various extent of isolated cleft palate were compared wit h newborns without cleft palate. The results indicate a shift of the functi onal oral cavity into the nasal cavity and the pharynx, depending on the ex tent of the cleft. Conclusion: The pumping activity of the tongue forms the upper part of the oral cavity and consequently the tongue moves into the nasal cavity and pha rynx, depending on the extent of the cleft, In this way, effective pumping of amniotic fluid is possible despite the cleft. This is of vital importanc e for the fetus during intrauterine life. A poorly passable or even unpassa ble respiratory way is only of secondary importance during that time.