Morphology of the Auditory Tube and Palatal Muscles in a Case of Bilateral Cleft Palate

Objective There is an increased incidence of otitis media in children with cleft palate, which may be related to the pathology of the auditory tube and palatal muscles. In the present study, the head of a human on term born fetus with bilateral palatal cleft was serially sectioned and the anatomy of the auditory tube and palatal muscles were studied by computer-aided three-dimensional reconstruction. Results The results showed a nearly horizontal course of the auditory tube. The tensor veli palatini muscle had a bony attachment on either side. The levator veli palatini muscle also showed an abnormal course. Conclusions This abnormal course may result in obstruction of the auditory tube during contraction. These pathological findings may explain the higher frequency of otitis media in children with cleft palate.

[1]  Noam Alperin,et al.  Magnetic resonance imaging of the levator veli palatini muscle during speech. , 2002, The Cleft palate-craniofacial journal : official publication of the American Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Association.

[2]  R. Suzuki,et al.  The initial attachment of cemental fibrils to the root dentin surface in acellular and cellular cementogenesis in rat molars. , 2001, Annals of anatomy = Anatomischer Anzeiger : official organ of the Anatomische Gesellschaft.

[3]  K H Koch,et al.  The pathology of the velopharyngeal musculature in cleft palates. , 1999, Annals of anatomy = Anatomischer Anzeiger : official organ of the Anatomische Gesellschaft.

[4]  J. Riski.  Anatomic Basis of Cleft Palate and Velopharyngeal Surgery: Implications from a Fresh Cadaveric Study , 1998 .

[5]  K Rajendran,et al.  A Fresh Cadaveric Study of the Paratubal Muscles: Implications for Eustachian Tube Function in Cleft Palate , 1997, Plastic and reconstructive surgery.

[6]  W. Doyle,et al.  Magnetic Resonance Imaging of the Development of Otitis Media with Effusion Caused by Functional Obstruction of the Eustachian Tube , 1997, The Annals of otology, rhinology, and laryngology.

[7]  I. Honjo,et al.  Eustachian tube compliance in cleft palate a preliminary study , 1994, The Laryngoscope.

[8]  D. Kuehn,et al.  Levator Veli Palatini Muscle Activity in Relation to Intranasal Air Pressure Variation , 1993 .

[9]  D. Kuehn,et al.  Levator veli palatini muscle activity in relation to intranasal air pressure variation. , 1993, The Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Journal.

[10]  H. Takahashi,et al.  Abnormalities of Lateral Cartilaginous Lamina and Lumen of Eustachian Tube in Cases of Cleft Palate , 1991, The Annals of otology, rhinology, and laryngology.

[11]  H. Takahashi,et al.  Insertion of the Tensor Veli Palatini Muscle into the Eustachian Tube Cartilage in Cleft Palate Cases , 1991, The Annals of otology, rhinology, and laryngology.

[12]  B Hillen,et al.  Three-dimensional computer reconstruction of the eustachian tube and paratubal muscles. , 1991, The Cleft palate-craniofacial journal : official publication of the American Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Association.

[13]  J. Douglas Swarts,et al.  The Morphometry and Three-Dimensional Structure of the Adult Eustachian Tube: Implications for Function , 1990 .

[14]  Y. Finkelstein,et al.  Levator Veli Palatini Muscle and Eustachian Tube Function , 1990, Plastic and reconstructive surgery.

[15]  D P Kuehn,et al.  Histologic study of the normal human adult soft palate. , 1990, The Cleft palate journal.

[16]  I. Sando,et al.  Histopathologic Study of Eustachian Tube in Cleft Palate Patients , 1988, The Annals of otology, rhinology, and laryngology.

[17]  F. Schulte.  Hörstörungen im Kindesalter , 1987 .

[18]  W. Doyle,et al.  Histopathology of Otitis Media in Infants with Cleft and High Arched Palates , 1984 .

[19]  N. Albiin.  The anatomy of the Eustachian tube. , 1984, Acta oto-laryngologica. Supplementum.

[20]  V. Eggeling.  [Logopedic care of cleft lip, jaw, palate and velum]. , 1982, Zahnarztliche Praxis.

[21]  S. R. Rood,et al.  The nasopharyngeal orifice of the auditory tube: implications for tubal dynamics anatomy. , 1982, The Cleft palate journal.

[22]  R. Shprintzen,et al.  Abnormalities of the Eustachian tube orifice in individuals with cleft palate. , 1981, International journal of pediatric otorhinolaryngology.

[23]  I. Honjo,et al.  Role of the tensor veli palatini muscle in movement of the soft palate. , 1979, Acta oto-laryngologica.

[24]  A. Dellon,et al.  Anatomic relationshiphs between the human levator and tensor veli palatini and the eustachian tube. , 1978, The Cleft palate journal.

[25]  D. R. Dickson.  Anatomy of the Normal and Cleft Palate Eustachian Tube , 1976, The Annals of otology, rhinology, and laryngology.

[26]  W. Dickson,et al.  Velopharyngeal anatomy. , 1972, Journal of speech and hearing research.

[27]  M. Ross.  Functional anatomy of the tensor palati. Its relevance in cleft palate surgery. , 1971, Archives of otolaryngology.

[28]  M Fára,et al.  Abnormal anatomy of the muscles of palatopharyngeal closure in cleft palates: anatomical and surgical considerations based on the autopsies of 18 unoperated cleft palates. , 1970, Plastic and reconstructive surgery.

[29]  O B Kriens,et al.  AN ANATOMICAL APPROACH TO VELOPLASTY , 1969, Plastic and reconstructive surgery.

[30]  C. S. Simkins.  FUNCTIONAL ANATOMY OF THE EUSTACHIAN TUBE , 1943 .