3-D Digitalized Anatomy Research Of Cleft Palate Muscle Based On Micro-CT,Research Progress On The Velopharyngeal Muscles And Evaluation Of Velopharyngeal Insufficiency After Cleft Palate Surgery

Objective:The cadaveric specimens stained with iodine-potassium iodide can show the fine structure of muscles under Micro-CT scanning.This paper will describe the research on a specimens with cleft palate scanned using this technique to explore the relationship between the muscle fibers of the velopharyngeal muscles in order to guide the muscle reconstruction in cleft palate repair,and to better understand the formation of pathologic speech in cleft palateMaterials and Methods:The velopharyngeal muscle sample from one unclaimed 28-week aborted fetus diagnosed as II degree cleft palate was cut between the plane of the orbital floor and the plane of the mouth bottom,soaked in 4%formaldehyde for 8 hours,and then 3.75%iodine-potassium iodide for 7 days for staining.At last,the stained specimens were scanned with Micro-CT.And muscle fibers were drew in the exported DICOM images to reconstruct a three-dimensional model of the muscles.Results:The main muscles of the velopharynx were found from the tomographic image and the three-dimensional reconstruction model:the levator muscle of palatine velum,the tensor veli palatini,the palatopharyngeus muscle,the palatoglossus muscle,and the upper part of the superior pharyngeal constrictor.Some local anatomical features of the muscles were also found:?the tensor veli palatini has a branch ending at the lateral pharyngeal wall;? the superior pharyngeal constrictor has multiple connections with the levator muscle of palatine velum,the tensor veli palatini,the palatopharyngeus muscle;?There was no obvious muscle fiber crossings between the internal muscles of the cleft palate while the muscle of uvula was not found.Conclusion:With the help of the high-resolution Micro-CT technology,some new branches of the pharyngeal muscles and the crossings of the muscles can be recognized.In the cleft palate specimen,the main functional muscles of the pharyngeal are mainly associated with the superior pharyngeal constrictor.The muscles in the palate and the pharynx are interrelated and form a three-dimensional "pharyngeal muscle complex."...