Development of the Palate Diagram

The development of the palate begins with primary palate formation from medial nasal prominences (intermaxillary segment) anteriorly, followed by secondary palate from lateral palatal shelves of maxillary prominences. Shelves grow medially, elevate above tongue, fuse midline and with nasal septum by week 12. Failure causes cleft palate; fusion defects often link to cleft lip.