Velopharyngeal Muscle Morphology in Children With Unrepaired Submucous Cleft Palate: An Imaging Study.
Graham C SchenckJamie L PerryMary M O'GaraAmy Morgan LindeMitchell F GrasseschiRobert J WoodMartin S LaceyXiangming FangPublished in: The Cleft palate-craniofacial journal : official publication of the American Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Association (2020)
The levator veli palatini muscle is longer, thinner, and discontinuous through the velar midline, and the musculus uvulae is absent in children with SMCP and VPI compared to noncleft controls. The overall velar configuration in children with SMCP and VPI is disadvantageous for achieving adequate velopharyngeal closure necessary for nonnasal speech compared to noncleft controls. These findings add to the body of literature documenting levator muscle, musculus uvulae, and velar and craniometric parameters in children with SMCP.