A facial cleft or deformity in the midline of the face; a type of cleft palate, historically termed with reference to monkey-like appearance.
From German 'Affe' (monkey) and 'Spalte' (cleft or split), a medical term describing facial clefts. Used in older medical German to describe congenital facial conditions.
This archaic medical term reveals how past doctors described birth defects by comparing them to animal features—it's a reminder that medicine's language has evolved toward more respectful, scientifically accurate terminology.
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