This model shows the normal hard and soft palate. The oral mucosa of the soft palate is dissected away on the left side of the model exposing the underlying musculature important in cleft palate repair.The medial muscle is the M. levator veli palatini, the "U" shaped muscle wrapping around the uvula. The lateral muscle is the M. tensor veli palatini which wraps around the hamulus of the pterygoid. The tensor muscles on the right and left are connected by a broad aponeurosis, the Aponneurosis palati lying just posterior to edge of the hard palate shown here in white. This model was made from plaster and dental wax and is useful in explaining the elements of a normal palate to the parents of children who are about to undergo cleft palate repair.

This model shows the elements of a midline cleft palate with abnormal insertion of the levator and tensor aponeurosis on the posterior aspect of the hard palate. Again the oral mucosa of the left side of the soft palate has been dissected away to show the levator and tensor muscles. The vomer can be seen in the middle of the cleft.

This model shows the operative repair of the midline cleft palate after all of the incisions have been made. The tensor aponeurosis has been carefully dissected off the posterior aspect of the hard palate with a Cronin elevator. The levator has also been dissected free of the posterior edge of the cleft hard palate. Arterialized flaps have been elevated from the lateral aspects of the oral mucosa of the hard palate. The mucosa of the vomer has been incised longitudinally and elevated from the vomer on both the right and left sides. The mucosa on the nasal side of the hard palate on both the right and left side of the cleft has been separated and elevated from the edge of the cleft. The edges of the levator are then approximated in the midline as are the edges of the tensor aponneurosis. Then the nasal mucosa is approximated to the vomer mucosa on both the right and left side.

This model shows the completion of the midline cleft palate repair. Following the approximation of the muscles and repair of the nasal mucosa, the oral mucosa of the soft and hard palate are approximated in the midline, leaving the lateral aspect of the hard palate to granulate in and heal by contraction and epithelialization.This repair allows the muscles of the soft palate to function properly and closes the cleft.