It is not my purpose to describe in detail the anatomy of the palate, normal and cleft, but to point out the deviations from the normal as observed in the cleft. In the human embryo of about the third week, the face is in progress of development. From the front of the cephalic mass five tubercles bud out, of which the middle one passes vertically downward. This tubercle is double, and in it the intermaxillary bones are developed which contain the incisor teeth. Therefore, it bears the name "incisive tubercle."
The rudimentary superior maxillary bones, which are widely separated, are developed at each side of the incisive tubercle, though not united with it. While the fourth and fifth tubercles are separated in front, they subsequently unite in the median line to form the mandible.
Simultaneously the palate begins to be formed by the approach toward the median line of the