Development of Cleft Lip and Palate

Abstract

Abnormalities in development of the lip and palate (CL/P) reflect the complexities of the various processes involved. Physical or molecular disruption of any of these processes, notably fusion of embryonic extraoral and intraoral processes, can result in clefts of the lip and / or palate that manifest a highly variable spectrum of phenotypic severity. Knowledge of the relative contribution of genetic and environmental factors to CL/P pathology continues to evolve but can broadly account for two types of CLP presentations: those associated with syndromes and those that occur as isolated phenomena.