How did cleft palate gets its name?

Cleft palate gets its name from the Latin word "palatum", which means "roof of the mouth", and the Old English word "cleft", meaning "split" or "divided". The term "cleft palate" is used to describe a condition in which there is a gap or split in the palate, affecting the roof of the mouth and sometimes extending to the lip. The name reflects the physical characteristic of the palate being split or divided, as opposed to being intact or complete.