has part has part characteristic of inheres in has modifier Cleft soft palate Submucous cleft soft palate 2012-04-29T09:49:02Z A cleft of the muscular (soft) portion of the palate that is covered by mucous membrane. Soft-palate submucous clefts are characterized by a midline deficiency or lack of muscle tissue. HP:0011819 Submucous cleft velum UMLS:C4023175 Often, submucous cleft palate is associated with bifid uvula, but this should be coded separately. The muscles of the soft palate may not function properly, leading to speech problems, middle ear disease, and swallowing difficulties. Partial thickness cleft soft palate Submucous cleft palate abnormal closure incomplete palatal muscle