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Raphe (/ˈreɪfi/ RAY-fee; from Ancient Greek: ῥαφή, romanized: rhaphḗ, lit. 'seam'; pl.: raphae or raphes) has several different meanings in science.

In botany and planktology, it is commonly used when describing a seam or ridge on diatoms or seeds.

In animal anatomy, it is used to describe a ridged union of continuous biological tissue. There are several different significant anatomical raphes:

• The raphe nucleus is a moderate-size cluster of nuclei found in the brain stem that releases serotonin to the rest of the brain. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressants are believed to act at these nuclei.
• The buccal raphe, which is on the cheek and evidence of the fusion of the maxillary and mandibular processes
• The lingual raphe on the tongue. Obvious physical evidence of the lingual raphe includes the frenulum (also called the frenum), or band of mucous membrane that is visible under the tongue attaching it to the floor of the mouth. If this raphe is too tight at birth, movement of the tongue is restricted and the child is said to be "tongue tied".
• The palatine raphe on the roof of the mouth (or palate). Incomplete fusion of the palatine raphe results in a congenital defect known as cleft palate.
• The pharyngeal raphe joins the left and right pharyngeal constrictors.
• The perineal raphe extends from the anus, through the mid-line of the scrotum (scrotal raphe), and upwards through the ventral mid-line aspect of the penis (penile raphe) in males. In females, it extends from the anus, through the mid-line of the perineum to the posterior junction of the labia majora.
• The anococcygeal raphe, an alternative name for the anococcygeal body
• The iliococcygeal raphe
• The pterygomandibular raphe
• The lateral palpebral raphe
• The mylohyoid raphe

Teratology

In teratology, a malformation or congenital disorder involving a raphe, such as spina bifida, is known as a dysraphism.

References

1. Liddell, H.G. & Scott, R. (1940). A Greek-English Lexicon. revised and augmented throughout by Sir Henry Stuart Jones. with the assistance of. Roderick McKenzie. Oxford: Clarendon Press.
2. "raphe" at Dorland's Medical Dictionary

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