National Dental Assisting Examining Board (NDAEB) Practice Exam

What is the hanging projection of tissue at the border of the soft palate?

1. Uvula

2. Tonsil

3. Frenulum

4. Palatine

The correct answer is: Uvula

The uvula is the correct answer as it refers to the small, dangling structure of tissue that hangs down from the soft palate at the back of the throat. Its primary role is to assist in the production of speech and in the swallowing process by helping to close off the nasopharynx during swallowing, preventing food from entering the nasal cavity. The tonsil, found on either side of the throat, plays a role in the immune system but does not hang from the soft palate itself. The frenulum, which can refer to the tissue that connects the tongue to the floor of the mouth or the lip to the gum, is unrelated to the soft palate. The term palatine typically refers to structures associated with the roof of the mouth or the palatine bones, not a projection of tissue. Thus, the uvula is distinctly recognized for its specific location and function at the border of the soft palate.