Examining Craniofacial and Velopharyngeal Structures in Premature Infants: A Window Into the Womb.

Background: Very little is known about how the velopharynx and levator veli palatini muscle develop in utero. The purpose of this study was to describe craniofacial, velopharyngeal, and levator veli palatini dimensions in a group of infants born prematurely and imaged before 40 weeks gestation.

Methods: A retrospective, descriptive study design was utilized to examine the MRI scans of 6 infants less than 40 weeks' gestation.