Abstract:

Objective　To provide anatomic basis for fetal intrauterine surgical repair of complete cleft lip and palate.　Methods　Vascular cast specimens of the head and neck from 21～32W normal fetus and unilateral complete cleft lip and palate fetus were carried out. Blood supply source and arterial anastomosis of lip and palate were observed and compared.　Results　①For  healthy fetus, blood supply of lip and palate mainly came from superior labial artery, nasal alar artery and greater palatine artery. The arterial arch formed by the anastomosis between the left and the right superior labial artery. The superficial and deep vascular networks were formed in nasal septum，and the nasal septum branch of superior labial artery anastomosed with the perforator branch of greater palatine artery. ② Due to the slit separation, The lip and palate vessels of unilateral complete cleft lip and palate fetus absent the anastomosis between the left and the right superior labial artery, however the greater palatine artery and nasal vessel anastomosed with each other through bone stump.　Conclusions　For fetus of cleft lip and palate, blood supply of the lip and palate was plentiful, especially for superior labial artery and greater palatine artery.

Key words: Cleft lip and palate, Intrauterine surgery, Fetus, Blood suppl