a congenital disorder characterized by a fissure in the roof of the mouth caused by failure of bones of the palate to fuse properly during prenatal development. The extent of a cleft palate may vary in different individuals, affecting only the hard palate or both hard and soft palates or extending completely through to the uvula; a cleft lip may or may not co-occur. The condition is typically corrected through surgery between 9 and 18 months of age, and repeated surgeries during childhood may be necessary for complete correction. Also called uranoschisis.