The correct spelling of the medical term "harelip suture" is quite complex. The first part of the word, "hare", is spelled with the short "a" sound as in "hat", pronounced as /hɛər/. The second part, "lip", is pronounced as /lɪp/. The term "suture" is pronounced with a long "u" sound, as in "you", which is represented by the IPA symbol /yuːr/. The whole term refers to a surgical technique used to repair a cleft in the lip.
A harelip suture is a medical term used to describe a surgical procedure performed to repair a cleft lip. A cleft lip is a congenital deformity that occurs when the upper lip does not form properly during fetal development, resulting in a gap or "cleft" in the lip. This condition can cause functional impairments in speech, feeding, and oral hygiene, as well as aesthetic concerns.
A harelip suture involves the meticulous and delicate process of rejoining the tissues of the upper lip to correct the cleft. The procedure is typically performed by a skilled surgeon under general anesthesia. During the surgery, incisions are made on both sides of the cleft to access the underlying tissues. The surgeon then carefully aligns and stitches the tissues together, closing the gap and reconstructing the natural contours of the upper lip.
After the harelip suture, the surgical site is typically covered with a dressing to protect it and promote healing. Patients may experience temporary swelling, bruising, and discomfort, which can be managed with pain medications and post-operative care instructions.
The ultimate goal of a harelip suture is to create a functional, symmetrical, and aesthetically pleasing upper lip. In some cases, additional surgeries or interventions may be required as the child grows to address any residual deformities or improve speech and facial aesthetics.
A pin is passed through the lips of the wound at right angles to the line of incision and a thread is passed over the ends of the pin in the form of a figure-of-8.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
The word "harelip" is a term used to describe a congenital deformity or cleft in the upper lip. The etymology of "harelip" is unclear, but it likely originates from the resemblance of the split lip to the divided upper lip of a hare or rabbit.
The term "suture" refers to a medical technique of stitching or sewing together body tissues. It comes from the Latin word "sutura", meaning "a sewn seam" or "a stitch".
Therefore, the term "harelip suture" refers to the surgical procedure that involves stitching or suturing the cleft or split in the upper lip of a person with a harelip.