title: New concept of morphogenesis of clefts in the lip, alveolus, and palate.
abstract: The morphogenesis of clefts in the lip, alveolus, and palate is a process of both functional and formative adaptation of the affected mouth cavity to the disturbance which the cleft would represent in "pumping" the amniotic fluid. Only a normally developed portal venous system of the foetus, which is a continuation of the digestive canal through the liver, ensures efficient per-oral nutrition after birth. According to the findings known to date, the foetus feeds by "pumping" the amniotic fluid as early as the end of the third month of pregnancy. The amniotic fluid and nutritive substances contained in the fluid, which the foetus receives from the mother through the umbilical vein, are for the greatest part discharged through the foetus's skin. The morphogenesis of clefts proves the formative power of the tongue and its importance in the development of the mouth cavity as well as the ability of the normal growth response of the tissues around the cleft.
mesh_terms: D000539:Alveolar Process / Q000002:abnormalities*; D000653:Amniotic Fluid / Q000378:metabolism; D002971:Cleft Lip / Q000196:embryology*; D002972:Cleft Palate / Q000196:embryology*; D003679:Deglutition; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008099:Liver / Q000196:embryology; D009024:Morphogenesis; D009055:Mouth / Q000196:embryology; D014059:Tongue / Q000196:embryology