Premium
The bifid uvula
Author(s) -
Taylor G. Dekle
Publication year - 1972
Publication title -
the laryngoscope
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.181
H-Index - 148
eISSN - 1531-4995
pISSN - 0023-852X
DOI - 10.1288/00005537-197205000-00002
Subject(s) - medicine , anatomy , osteogenesis imperfecta , conductive hearing loss , soft palate , sclera , otosclerosis , auditory canal , eustachian tube , middle ear , surgery
Seemingly minor anatomical variants may herald more serious and complicated anatomical or physiological abnormalities. A white forelock is present in 20 percent of cases with Waardenburg's syndrome. Blue sclera suggests the diagnosis of otosclerosis or osteogenesis imperfecta. A subtle variation of the ear lobe may suggest a congenital defect of the ossicular chain in the patient with conductive deafness and normal appearing tympanic membranes. I believe the bifid uvula to be a sentinel, manifesting a disturbance of the normal embryological development of the palate and related structures. Otologic sequelae and velo‐pharyngeal incompetency seen with the more familiar cleft palate may also occur in patients with a bifid uvula. An increased awareness for this seemingly benign variant may aid the otolaryngologist in his quest for ways to prevent conductive deafness and the adverse anatomical changes accompanying tubal inefficiency.