Praxis SLP Licensure Exam

A child born with a complete cleft of the secondary palate most likely does not have an affected structure in which of the following?

1. hard palate

2. velum

3. alveolar ridge

4. uvula

The correct answer is: alveolar ridge

A child born with a complete cleft of the secondary palate typically involves the structures that comprise the secondary palate, which includes the hard palate, velum, and uvula. The secondary palate forms the roof of the mouth and separates the oral cavity from the nasal passages. In a complete cleft of the secondary palate, the cleft would extend through the hard palate, affecting its integrity, and also involve the velum (the soft part of the roof of the mouth towards the back) and the uvula, as it is positioned at the end of the velum. The alveolar ridge, on the other hand, contains the sockets for the upper teeth and is part of the primary palate structure. In typical cases of complete cleft of the secondary palate, the alveolar ridge remains intact, as a complete cleft specifically refers to the failure of fusion of the secondary palate structures rather than affecting the alveolar processes or the anterior portion of the jaw. Thus, while the hard palate, velum, and uvula are compromised in a complete cleft of the secondary palate, the alveolar ridge is likely to remain unaffected.