Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Comparative Study
. 2018 May;55(5):697-705.
doi: 10.1177/1055665617752802. Epub 2018 Jan 23.

Differences in the Tensor Veli Palatini Between Adults With and Without Cleft Palate Using High-Resolution 3-Dimensional Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Thomas N George  1 , Katelyn J Kotlarek  2 , David P Kuehn  3 , Bradley P Sutton  4 , Jamie L Perry  2
Affiliations
Comparative Study

Differences in the Tensor Veli Palatini Between Adults With and Without Cleft Palate Using High-Resolution 3-Dimensional Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Thomas N George et al. Cleft Palate Craniofac J. 2018 May.

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the dimensions of the tensor veli palatini (TVP) muscle in adults with and without cleft palate.

Design: Prospective study.

Participants: There were a total of 14 adult participants, 8 noncleft and 6 with cleft palate.

Methods: Analysis and comparison of the TVP muscle and surrounding structures was completed using 3D MRI data and Amira 5.5 Visualization Modeling software. TVP muscle volume, hamular process distance, mucosal thickness, TVP muscle length, and TVP muscle diameter were used for comparison between participant groups based upon previous research methods.

Results: Mann-Whitney U tests revealed a significantly smaller ( U < .001, P = .002) TVP muscle volume in the cleft palate group (median = 536.22 mm3) compared to individuals in the non-cleft palate group (median = 895.19 mm3). The TVP muscle was also significantly shorter ( U = 1.00, P = .003) in the cleft palate group (median = 18.04 mm) versus the non-cleft palate (median = 21.18 mm). No significant differences were noted for the other measured parameters.

Conclusion: Significant differences in the TVP muscle volume and length among the noncleft participants found in this study may insights into the reported increased incidence of otitis media with effusion (OME) seen in the cleft population. Results from this study contribute to our understanding of the underlying anatomic differences among individuals with cleft palate.

Keywords: anatomy; magnetic resonance imaging; muscle function.

PubMed Disclaimer

Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
Demonstration of the measures obtained from the oblique coronal plane including: (1) mucosal thickness of the ET lateral lamina at the pharyngeal orifice (relative to the dotted reference line running through and middle of the ET), (2) bihamular distance (noted by double arrow), (3) TVP muscle length (noted by multiple arrows along the muscle contour), (4) TVP muscle diameter. The smaller figure in the upper left shows the plane (white line) from which these measures were derived placed upon the midsagittal image.
FIGURE 2
FIGURE 2
Oblique coronal images across each participant demonstrating the TVP muscle. The TVP muscle bundles are indicated with white arrows and the sex of the participant is noted as male (M) or female (F).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Alper CM, Swarts JD, Singla A, Banks J, Doyle WJ. Relationship between the electromyographic activity of the paratubal muscles and Eustachian tube opening assessed by sonotubometry and videoendoscopy. Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2012;138:741–746. - PubMed
    1. Aniansson G, Svensson H, Becker M, Ingvarsson L. Otitis media and feeding with breast milk of children with cleft palate. Scand J Plast Reconstr Surg Hand Surg 2002;36:9–15. - PubMed
    1. Barsoumian R, Kuehn DP, Moon JB, Canady JW. An anatomic study of the tensor veli palatini and dilatator tubae muscles in relation to Eustachian tube and velar function. Cleft Palate Craniofac J 1998;35(2):101–10. - PubMed
    1. Bluestone CD, Bluestone MB. Eustachian tube: structure, function, role in otitis media Hamilton: BC: Decker; 2005.
    1. Cole RM, Cole JE, Intaraprasong S. Eustachian tube function in cleft lip and palate patients. Arch Otolaryngol 1974;99:337–341. - PubMed

Publication types

LinkOut - more resources