Describing the Cleft: Type, Side, and How Complete
Take the reading one piece at a time. For each piece: read it once, underline the sentence that says what happens, then look up any word in the list. Tap a word to see its definition.
Piece 1 of 2
Clefts are described along three independent axes, each a separate question. Axis 1, which structures: is the gap in the lip (CL), the palate (CP), or both (CLP)? Axis 2, laterality: if the lip is clefted, is it unilateral (one side, specify left or right) or bilateral (both sides)? Axis 3, completeness: does the lip cleft reach the nostril and the palate gap run full length (complete), or is it a partial gap (incomplete)? A hidden type to remember is the submucous cleft palate, an occult defect under intact mucosa whose classic triad is a bifid uvula, a midline translucent streak, and a notch felt in the back of the hard palate; it can be missed at birth and show up later as a speech problem, which is exactly why palpation matters.
Piece 2 of 2
Sorting Mateo's findings onto the axes: the gap runs through both the lip AND the palate; on the lip it is on the left side only, with the right lip intact; and the lip cleft runs all the way to the left nostril while the palate is open along its length. So Mateo has a complete unilateral (left) cleft lip and palate. Background numbers for context: CLP is the largest single category (about 45%), unilateral clefts outnumber bilateral about 4 to 1, and of the unilateral ones about 70% are left-sided.
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.
Now put it together: In one or two sentences, say what this whole reading is telling you about Mateo. Then go back to the lesson and fill in the guided notes.