Secondary palate

The secondary palate is an anatomical structure that divides the nasal cavity from the oral cavity in many vertebrates. The secondary palate is an anatomical structure that divides the nasal cavity from the oral cavity in many vertebrates. In human embryology, it refers to that portion of the hard palate that is formed by the growth of the two palatine shelves medially and their mutual fusion in the midline. It forms the majority of the adult palate and meets the primary palate at the incisive foramen. Secondary palate development begins in the sixth week of pregnancy and can lead to cleft palate when development goes awry.