Malformations and anomalies

Anomalies of the tongue

The tongue failing to separate from the floor of the mouth is called ankyloglossia, whereby the frenulum remains too short.

Anomalies of the pharynx

Each of the four pharyngeal clefts has both a ventral and dorsal aspect. The dorsal aspect of the first pharyngeal cleft becomes the external acoustic meatus, whereas the ventral aspect normally disintegrates. However, if the latter remains open, this could lead to the formation of a sinus lined with epithelium, or to formation of a cyst or a fistula. The second and the third pharyngeal clefts can also result in this kind of abnormality but it is very rare for the fourth pharyngeal cleft to do so.
The lateral cervical cyst is often thought to arise from the pharyngeal arches. However, it is probably of lympho-epithelial origin.