Maxillofacial surgery: embryology of cleft lip: practice question

A Dentistry 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.

Try it

Dentistry · Maxillofacial surgery: embryology of cleft lip

Sample item

A unilateral cleft lip results from failure of which embryonic processes to fuse?

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

The answer and the reasoning

C. Maxillary prominence and medial nasal prominence

Cleft lip results from failure of the maxillary prominence to fuse with the merged medial nasal prominence. Failure of palatal shelves to fuse gives a cleft palate. The lateral nasal and maxillary prominences form the nasolacrimal groove.

Option by option

  • A. Lateral nasal and maxillary prominences

    Failure here gives an oblique facial cleft.

  • B. The two mandibular prominences

    Mandibular prominences fuse to form the lower jaw and lip.

  • C. Maxillary prominence and medial nasal prominence (correct)

    Correct. This failure of fusion causes cleft lip.

  • D. The two palatal shelves

    This failure causes cleft palate.

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 Dentistry questions

Questions about this Dentistry question

What is the answer to this Dentistry question?

The best answer is C, Maxillary prominence and medial nasal prominence. Cleft lip results from failure of the maxillary prominence to fuse with the merged medial nasal prominence.

Why is "Lateral nasal and maxillary prominences" not the answer?

Failure here gives an oblique facial cleft.

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

Mandibular prominences fuse to form the lower jaw and lip.

Why is "The two palatal shelves" not the answer?

This failure causes cleft palate.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Maxillofacial surgery: embryology of cleft lip in Dentistry. Failure of palatal shelves to fuse gives a cleft palate. The lateral nasal and maxillary prominences form the nasolacrimal groove.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as a multi-step question: it asks you to combine more than one idea. 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 Maxillofacial surgery: embryology of cleft lip?

Learn the dental formula, eruption ages and tooth structure once, as tables. Then use the flashcards and the other Dentistry 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.