OBJECTIVETo investigate the morphology of the soft palate in normal individuals with digital radiography, when they pronounced the high vowel of "i", and to provide the references for therapy of the cleft palate.

METHODSIn this study, the sample comprised 27 normal subjects. With the digital cephalometry, the morphology of the soft palate when pronouncing the high vowel of "i" was observed. And the dimensional difference of the soft palate when pronouncing between different gender was studied.

RESULTSWhen pronouncing the high vowel of "i", the morphology of the soft palate was like the shape of the knee. And it could be divided into two parts: horizontal and vertical. The length of the vertical part in male group was (24.92 +/- 2.03) mm, the length of the vertical part in the female group was (20.66 +/- 2.77) mm. The length of the vertical part was different between male and female group (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONThe morphology of the palate when pronouncing the high vowel of "i" is similar. And the velar length of the vertical part of the male is longer than the female.