Nasopharynx
Front of nasal part of pharynx, as seen with the laryngoscope.
Latin	pars nasalis pharyngis
Gray's	subject #244 1141
Nerve	maxillary nerve (pharyngeal nerve)
MeSH	Nasopharynx

The nasopharynx (nasal part of the pharynx) is the uppermost part of the pharynx. It extends from the base of the skull to the upper surface of the soft palate;^[1] it differs from the oral and laryngeal parts of the pharynx in that its cavity always remains patent (open).

Contents 1 Anterior 2 Lateral 3 Posterior 4 Additional images 5 Notes and references 6 See also 7 External links

[edit] Anterior

In front it communicates through the choanae with the nasal cavities.

[edit] Lateral

On its lateral wall is the pharyngeal ostium of the auditory tube, somewhat triangular in shape, and bounded behind by a firm prominence, the torus tubarius or cushion, caused by the medial end of the cartilage of the tube which elevates the mucous membrane.

Two folds arise from the cartilaginous opening:

• vertical fold of mucous membrane, the salpingopharyngeal fold, stretches from the lower part of the torus; it contains the Salpingopharyngeus muscle.
• second and smaller fold, the salpingopalatine fold, stretches from the upper part of the torus to the palate; it contains the levator veli palatini muscle. The tensor veli palatini is lateral to the levator and does not contribute the fold, since the origin is deep to the cartilaginous opening.

Behind the ostium of the auditory tube is a deep recess, the pharyngeal recess (fossa of Rosenmüller).

[edit] Posterior

On the posterior wall is a prominence, best marked in childhood, produced by a mass of lymphoid tissue, which is known as the pharyngeal tonsil.

Above the pharyngeal tonsil, in the middle line, an irregular flask-shaped depression of the mucous membrane sometimes extends up as far as the basilar process of the occipital bone; it is known as the pharyngeal bursa.

[edit] Additional images

Nose and nasal cavities

External and middle ear, opened from the front. Right side.

[edit] Notes and references

[edit] See also

• nasopharyngeal carcinoma - cancer of the nasopharynx
• Pharyngitis

[edit] External links

• SUNY Labs 31:st-1403

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This article was originally based on an entry from a public domain edition of Gray's Anatomy. As such, some of the information contained within it may be outdated.

v • d • e Anatomy of torso, digestive system: Gastrointestinal tract, excluding mouth (TA A05.3-7, GA 11.1141) Upper GI Hypo- pharynx Piriform sinus spaces: Peripharyngeal space (Retropharyngeal space, Parapharyngeal space) · Retrovisceral space (Retropharyngeal space, Danger space) · Prevertebral space Pterygomandibular raphe · Pharyngeal raphe · Buccopharyngeal fascia · Pharyngobasilar fascia Pharyngeal muscles Esophagus UES, LES Stomach Gastric rugae · gastric pits · cardia/gland · fundus/gland · pylorus/gland · pyloric antrum · pyloric canal · greater curvature · lesser curvature · angular incisure Lower GI Intestine: small Duodenum (Suspensory muscle, Major duodenal papilla, Minor duodenal papilla, Duodenal cap) • Duodenojejunal flexure • Jejunum • Ileum (Terminal ileum) • Ileocecal valve continuous (intestinal villus, crypts of Lieberkühn, circular folds) Intestine: large Vermiform appendix • Cecum • Colon (ascending colon, hepatic flexure, transverse colon, splenic flexure, descending colon, sigmoid colon) continuous (taenia coli, haustra, epiploic appendix) Termination Rectum: Houston valve • rectal ampulla • pectinate line Anal canal: anal valves • anal sinuses • anal columns • Hilton's white line Anus: Sphincter ani internus muscle • Sphincter ani externus muscle Lymph GALT: Peyer's patches (M cells) digestive system navs: anat of tract,glands,perit,diaphragm/physio/dev, noncongen/congen/congen of d+w/neoplasia, symptoms+signs/eponymous, proc

v • d • e Head and neck, upper RT: Nose (TA A06.1, GA 10.992) External nose Ala of nose nasal cartilages (of the septum, Greater alar, Lesser alar, Lateral nasal, Accessory nasal, Vomeronasal) Nasal cavity Openings Nasal vestibule · Nostril · Posterior nasal apertures Lateral wall Nasal concha/meati: Superior nasal concha · Middle nasal concha · Inferior nasal concha · Superior nasal meatus · Middle nasal meatus · Inferior nasal meatus Sphenoethmoidal recess · Ethmoid bulla · Agger nasi · Ethmoidal infundibulum · Semilunar hiatus · Maxillary hiatus Medial wall Nasal septum · Vomeronasal organ Mucous membrane Olfactory mucosa Paranasal sinuses Maxillary sinus · Sphenoidal sinuses · Frontal sinus · Ethmoid sinus Naso-pharynx Pharyngeal opening of auditory tube (Salpingopharyngeal fold, Salpingopalatine fold, Torus tubarius) · Pharyngeal tonsil · Pharyngeal recess respiratory system navs: anat nose,larynx/lower+thoracic cavity/physio/dev, noncongen/congen/tumors, symptoms+signs/eponymous, proc