Embryology: face and palate: practice question

A Anatomy question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

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Anatomy · Embryology: face and palate

Sample item

A newborn has a unilateral cleft lip extending into the alveolar ridge, with an intact secondary palate. Failure of fusion of which structures on that side explains the defect?

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

D. Maxillary prominence and the medial nasal prominence

The upper lip forms when the maxillary prominence fuses with the medial nasal prominence, which carries the philtrum and intermaxillary segment. Failure of this fusion causes a cleft lip that may extend into the primary palate. Cleft palate is a separate failure of the palatine shelves to fuse.

Option by option

  • A. Maxillary prominence and the lateral nasal prominence

    Failure of the maxillary and lateral nasal prominences gives an oblique facial cleft along the nasolacrimal groove.

  • B. The two mandibular prominences

    Failure of the mandibular prominences gives a rare median cleft of the lower lip and mandible.

  • C. The two palatine shelves with the nasal septum

    Failure of the palatine shelves causes a cleft of the secondary palate and the palate is intact here.

  • D. Maxillary prominence and the medial nasal prominence (correct)

    Correct. Cleft lip is caused by failure of the maxillary and medial nasal prominences to merge.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

More Anatomy questions

Questions about this Anatomy question

What is the answer to this Anatomy question?

The best answer is D, Maxillary prominence and the medial nasal prominence. The upper lip forms when the maxillary prominence fuses with the medial nasal prominence, which carries the philtrum and intermaxillary segment.

Why is "Maxillary prominence and the lateral nasal prominence" not the answer?

Failure of the maxillary and lateral nasal prominences gives an oblique facial cleft along the nasolacrimal groove.

Why is "The two mandibular prominences" not the answer?

Failure of the mandibular prominences gives a rare median cleft of the lower lip and mandible.

Why is "The two palatine shelves with the nasal septum" not the answer?

Failure of the palatine shelves causes a cleft of the secondary palate and the palate is intact here.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Embryology: face and palate in Anatomy. Failure of this fusion causes a cleft lip that may extend into the primary palate. Cleft palate is a separate failure of the palatine shelves to fuse.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as an application question: it asks you to use a fact on a patient or a finding. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Embryology: face and palate?

Learn every nerve by its route, its muscles and what a lesion looks like at the bedside. That one habit answers a large share of questions. Then use the flashcards and the other Anatomy questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.