Pala Health Dictionary

The partition between the cavity of the mouth, below, and that of the nose, above. It consists of the hard palate towards the front, which is composed of a bony plate covered below by the mucous membrane of the mouth, above by that of the nose; and of the soft palate further back, in which a muscular layer, composed of nine small muscles, is similarly covered. The hard palate extends a little further back than the wisdom teeth, and is formed by the maxillary and palate bones. The soft palate is concave towards the mouth and convex towards the nose, and it ends behind in a free border, at the centre of which is the prolongation known as the uvula. When food or air is passing through the mouth, as in the acts of swallowing, coughing, or vomiting, the soft palate is drawn upwards so as to touch the back wall of the throat and shut o? the cavity of the nose. Movements of the soft palate, by changing the shape of the mouth and nose cavities, are important in the production of speech.... palate

A ?ssure in the roof of the mouth (palate) and/ or the lip which is present at birth. It is found in varying degrees of severity in about one in 700 children. Modern plastic surgery can greatly improve the functioning of lips and palate and the appearance of the baby. Further cosmetic surgery later may not be necessary. The parent of the child who has cleft lip and/ or palate will be given detailed advice speci?c to his or her case. In general the team of specialists involved are the paediatrician, plastic surgeon, dentist or orthodontic specialist, and speech therapist. (See PALATE, MALFORMATIONS OF.)... cleft palate

(Hawaiian) One who is dearly loved

Palakyka, Palakeka, Palakeeka, Palakieka, Palakeika, Palakeaka... palakika

(Hawaiian) An independent woman Pallani, Palanie, Palany, Palaney, Palanee, Pallanee, Palanea, Pallanea, Pallanie, Pallany, Pallaney... palani

The commonest deformity of the PALATE is cleft palate, which is a result of faulty embryonic development in which the two sides of the palate fail to fuse or only fuse in part. If the cleft extends the full length with bilateral clefts at the front of the MAXILLA, it may be accompanied by a cleft lip (also called hare-lip) and disruption in the development of the front teeth. About 1 in 500 babies is born with a cleft lip and 1 in 1,000 has a cleft palate. If the parents are affected, the risk is three times that of the normal population; if one child has a deformity, the risk for a subsequent child is higher. Associated abnormalities include tongue tie, malpositioning of the MANDIBLE and ?uid in the middle EAR.

Cleft palate and hare-lip should be recti?ed by operation, because both are a serious drawback to feeding in early life – while later, harelip is a great dis?gurement, and the voice may be affected. The lip may be dealt with at any time from the neonatal period to a few weeks, depending on the individual surgeon’s view of when the best result is likely to be achieved. Prior to operation, special techniques may be necessary to ensure adequate feeding such as the use of special teats in formula-fed babies. The closure of a large cleft in the palate is a more formidable operation and is better performed when the face has grown somewhat, perhaps at 6–12 months. The operations performed vary greatly in details, but all consist in paring the edges of the gap and drawing the soft parts together across it.

Further operations may be required over the years to improve the appearance of the nose and lip, to make sure that teeth are even, and to improve speech.

Parents of such children can obtain help and advice from the Cleft Lip and Palate Association (CLAPA).... palate, malformations of

A split in the upper lip and/or palate that is present at birth. Cleft lip is a vertical, usually off-centre split in the upper lip that may be a small notch or may extend to the nose. The upper gum may also be cleft, and the nose may be crooked. The term

hare lip refers only to a midline cleft lip, which is rare. Cleft palate is a gap that may extend from the back of the palate to behind the teeth and be open to the nasal cavity. Cleft palate is often accompanied by partial deafness and there may be other birth defects.

Surgery to repair a cleft lip may be undertaken in the first few days after birth or at about 3 months.

It improves appearance; after repair, speech defects are rare.

A cleft palate is usually repaired at about 12 months, but further surgery, orthodontic treatment, and speech therapy may be required.... cleft lip and palate

combining form denoting 1. ancient. 2. primitive.... palaeo

n. the anterior lobe of the cerebellum. In evolutionary terms it is one of the earliest parts of the hindbrain to develop in mammals.... palaeocerebellum

n. the study of the diseases of humans and other animals in prehistoric times, from examination of their bones or other remains. By examining the bones of specimens of Neanderthal man it has been discovered that spinal arthritis was a disease that existed at least 50,000 years ago.... palaeopathology

n. see pallidum.... palaeostriatum

n. the anterior and central part of the *thalamus, older in evolutionary terms than the lateral part, the neothalamus, which is well developed in apes and humans.... palaeothalamus

rhythmical contraction of the palatal muscles. There are two forms, ordinary and essential. Ordinary palatal myoclonus is idiopathic and can result in *pulsatile tinnitus. Essential palatal myoclonus has no link to pulsatile tinnitus but may be associated with lesions of the brainstem.... palatal myoclonus

either of a pair of approximately L-shaped bones of the face that contribute to the hard *palate, the nasal cavity, and the orbits. See skull.... palatine bone

combining form denoting 1. the palate. 2. the palatine bone.... palato

n. surgery to alter the shape or physical characteristics of the palate. This can be plastic surgery of the roof of the mouth, usually to correct cleft palate or other defects present at birth. Other palatoplasty operations are carried out under local or general anaesthesia to shorten and/or stiffen the palate in the treatment of snoring or obstructive sleep apnoea. They may use conventional surgical techniques (*uvulopalatopharyngoplasty), laser (*laser-assisted uvulopalatoplasty), insertion of stiffening materials, or injection of sclerosants. It is also possible to use radiofrequency energy in a process called radiofrequency palatal myoplasty (RPM), also known as somnoplasty.... palatoplasty

n. see staphylorrhaphy.... palatorrhaphy

(RPM) see palatoplasty.... radiofrequency palatal myoplasty

A benign bony growth that develops on the palate, most commonly on the midline.... torus palatinus