In the Expressive Transducer--The Lips, Hard Palate and Velum (Soft Palate) are structures necessary to create oral pressure for speech.

• These proceed to develop into shelves that meet, first in the front and then progressively towards the rear.

• By twelve weeks the fusion is complete and baby has a roof to her mouth (palate).

• The front part will develop into immovable bone tissue called the hard palate.

• The back part, will consist of flexible connective, and muscle tissue, called the soft palate (also called the velum).

• It is the velum which moves to open and shut off the nasal cavity.

• Failure of the palate to fuse by the twelfth week results in the birth of a baby with no roof to his mouth (cleft palate).

• Without this structure, the child is unable create any oral pressure.

  NOTES: Some information of facial development and clefts.

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