The Normal Lip and Palate, Part by Part
What are the parts of a normal lip and , and what is the roof of the mouth actually doing?
💡 The roof of the mouth is not just a shape; it is a wall that separates the mouth from the nose.
What you will learn
Goal: Label the parts of the normal lip, , and nasal floor, and explain that the roof of the mouth is a wall that separates the mouth (oral ) from the nose (nasal cavity).
- The upper lip has a central bordered by philtral columns, with the where colored lip meets skin.
- The roof of the mouth has a bony in front and a movable in back.
- The is a landmark that divides the front (primary) from the back (secondary) palate.
- The and soft together form one continuous wall separating the oral from the nasal cavity.
Model: A normal newborn lip and the roof of the mouth
Picture a healthy newborn's upper lip and open mouth, part by part. The upper lip has a soft vertical dip in the center called the , bordered by two raised ridges (the philtral columns) that meet a small double curve of the lip edge (Cupid's bow). The sharp line where the colored part of the lip meets the skin is the .
Now look up into the open mouth. The front, bony, tooth-bearing ridge is the (the gum ridge that will hold teeth). Behind it, the firm front two-thirds of the roof is the (bone). The soft, movable back third is the soft , also called the , ending in the dangling uvula. A small landmark hole in the bone just behind the front teeth, the , marks the boundary between the front part of the palate and the back part.
The roof of the mouth ( plus soft together) forms a complete wall. Above that wall is the nasal . Below it is the mouth.
Explore (work the model before reading on)
- List the parts of the upper lip named in the model.
- The roof of the mouth has a hard front part and a soft back part. Which is bone and which can move?
- What sits directly above the roof of the mouth, and what sits directly below it?
- If the roof of the mouth is a wall between the mouth and the nose, what would happen to that separation if there were a gap in the wall?
- A baby needs to drink milk without it going up into the nose. Predict one reason an intact, continuous roof of the mouth matters for feeding.
Guided notes
The parts of the lip
- The soft vertical groove in the center of the upper lip is the ____.
- The sharp line where the colored lip meets the skin is the ____ border.
The roof of the mouth
- The bony front two-thirds of the roof is the ____ ; the movable back third is the soft palate, also called the ____.
- The landmark hole that divides the front and back of the is the ____ foramen.
The one big idea
- The roof of the mouth is a ____ that separates the mouth (oral ) from the nose (nasal cavity).
- These parts form during early development when separate blocks of grow toward the and ____ (join).
Reading the Research
- Skim the title and abstract first to get the gist.
- Circle the one sentence that states the main claim.
- Box the evidence the authors give for that claim.
- Mark one sentence that confuses you, and move on.
Using the database (what to capture)
Part of today's expected outcome is to actually open the tool below and write down the value it gives you. That captured value is the evidence you will use in your Claim, Evidence, Reasoning. Follow the steps, use the labeled screenshot so you do not get lost, and record each field.
Plain-language explanations of a gene or condition, written for patients and families.
- 1Open medlineplus.gov/genetics and search the gene or condition (IRF6).
- 2Read the summary written in everyday words.
- 3Note the conditions the gene is linked to at the bottom of the page.
- Topic: IRF6 gene
- Plain-language summary: IRF6 helps the tissues of the face join correctly before birth.
- Linked conditions: Van der Woude syndrome; nonsyndromic cleft
Vocabulary (the same words your classes use)
Vetted readings for this lesson
Track your progress today
Check these off as you work through the lesson, then submit. This tells Mr. Mendoza how you're doing so he can help the class. It does not replace turning in your producible.
Use the code Mr. Mendoza gave you, not your name. Saved on this device.
- Read the Model and answered the Explore questions.
- Filled in the guided notes in my own words.
- Defined the new vocabulary with an example.
- Opened MedlinePlus and recorded the value it gave me.
- Built the producible: On a blank diagram of a normal newborn upper lip and open mouth, label six structures: philtrum, vermilion border, alveolus, hard palate, soft palate (velum), and incisive foramen. Then write one sentence explaining, in your own words, what job the roof of the mouth does.
- Wrote my Claim, Evidence, and Reasoning exit ticket.
Exit ticket (Claim, Evidence, Reasoning)
- Claim: The roof of the mouth is more than a shape; it is a ____.
- Evidence: Name the structures, front and back, that make up this wall.
- Reasoning: Explain why keeping the mouth and the nose separated would matter for a newborn who needs to feed.
| Criterion | Proficient | Developing | Beginning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Complete | Every required part of the artifact is present and filled in. | Most parts are present, but one is missing or left blank. | Several parts are missing. |
| Accurate | The science and data are correct and match the evidence. | Mostly correct, with a small factual slip. | Key science or data is wrong. |
| Scientific reasoning (CER) | States a claim, backs it with specific evidence, and explains the reasoning. | Has a claim and evidence, but the reasoning is thin or missing. | Gives an answer with no evidence or reasoning. |
| Professional communication | Clear, organized, and labeled the way a clinician or scientist would write it. | Readable but disorganized or missing labels. | Hard to follow. |
| Submitted | Turned in the right way (Schoology for routine work) and confirmed. | Turned in, but in the wrong place or unconfirmed. | Not turned in. |
- CompleteProficient: Nothing is left blank: the model fills every part of "On a blank diagram of a normal newborn upper lip and open mouth, label six structures: philtrum, vermilion border, alveolus, hard palate, soft palate (velum), and incisive foramen. Then write one sentence explaining, in your own words, what job the roof of the mouth does.".
- AccurateProficient: Every number and claim matches the case evidence.
- Scientific reasoning (CER)Proficient: It names a claim, cites the specific evidence, and explains the reasoning, not just the answer.
- Professional communicationProficient: It is organized and labeled like a real chart note.
- SubmittedProficient: It would be turned in on Schoology and confirmed.
Where this leads: careers
What's next: We have a clean map of the normal lip and . But a lip and a palate are not just static shapes; they have to move, close, and seal. Which muscles make a lip and a palate work? We chase that next time.