--- title: "Nasopharynx Anatomy" description: "A guide to the Anatomy of Nasopharynx for medical students and ENT residents." source: "The ENT Resident" author: "Dr. Mausumi Das" canonical_url: "https://www.theentresident.com/ent-notes-lectures/nasopharynx-anatomy" categories: ["Pharynx"] video: "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vEU3KGUMohg" image: "https://media.theentresident.com/og-images/nasopharynx-anatomy.png" --- # Nasopharynx Anatomy A guide to the Anatomy of Nasopharynx for medical students and ENT residents. Watch the full video lecture on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vEU3KGUMohg ## 🌬️ What is the Nasopharynx? The nasopharynx is the **uppermost part of the pharynx**, also known as the **epipharynx**. ### 📍 Location of Nasopharynx: - Posterior to the nasal cavities. - Above the level of the soft palate. - **Extent**: From the base of the skull (basal occiput and basal sphenoid) to the horizontal plane passing through the hard palate. --- ### 🔲 Boundaries of the Nasopharynx The nasopharynx has the following boundaries: **1. Roof** - Formed by the **basiocciput** and **basisphenoid**. - Roof slopes backward and continues into the posterior wall. - **Nasopharyngeal tonsil (adenoids)** lies at the junction of the roof and posterior wall. **2. Posterior Wall** - Formed by the **Arch of the atlas vertebra (C1)**. - Covered by **prevertebral muscles and fascia**. - Extends to the junction of the hard and soft palate. **3. Floor** - Anteriorly formed by the **soft palate**. - Posteriorly deficient, forming the **Nasopharyngeal Isthmus**, which connects the nasopharynx to the oropharynx. > What are the boundaries of **Nasopharyngeal Isthmus**? **🔸 Passavant’s Ridge:** - A **U-shaped mucosal ridge** formed by fibers of the **Palatopharyngeus muscle**. >What is the importance of **Passavant's ridge**? **4. Anterior Wall** - Formed by the **posterior nasal apertures (choanae)**. - Structures projecting into the choanae: - Posterior ends of the **inferior and middle conchae**. - Communication with the nasal cavity occurs here. **5. Lateral Wall** - Contains several important structures: - **Pharyngeal opening of the Eustachian tube** >What is the distance of the pharyngeal opening of Eustachian tube from the posterior end of Inferior Turbinate? - **Torus tubarius** - Cartilaginous elevation around the Eustachian tube opening. - Site of the **tubal tonsil** (part of Waldeyer's ring). - **Fossa of Rosenmüller** - Recess above and behind the torus tubarius. >What are the boundaries of **Fossa of Rosenmuller**? >Which tumor is commonly seen arising from **Fossa of Rosenmuller**? - **Salpingopharyngeal Fold** - Mucosal fold covering the **salpingopharyngeus muscle** extending downward from the torus tubarius. --- ### 🏷️ Other Important Structures in the Nasopharynx - **Rathke's Pouch** - Remnant structure seen as a dimple above the adenoids. >Which tumor arises from rathke's pouch? - **Nasopharyngeal Tonsil (Adenoids)** - Subepithelial lymphoid tissue at the junction of roof and posterior wall. - Enlarges till about 6 years of age, then involutes. - **Nasopharyngeal Bursa** - Median epithelial-lined recess within the adenoids. - May lead to **persistent postnasal discharge** or **Thornwaldt's cyst** if infected. - **Tubal Tonsils** - Located at the **torus tubarius**. - Enlargement can **obstruct the Eustachian tube**, affecting middle ear ventilation. --- ### 🩸 Lymphatic Drainage of Nasopharynx Drains into: - **Upper deep cervical lymph nodes** (directly or via Retropharyngeal/ Parapharyngeal nodes) - **Spinal accessory chain of lymph nodes** - Can cross the midline to the **contralateral lymph nodes** --- ### 🧬 Epithelial Lining of the Nasopharynx - **Anteriorly**: Lined by **ciliated pseudostratified columnar epithelium** (respiratory type). - **Posteriorly**: Lined by **non-keratinized stratified squamous epithelium**. - **Transitional Zone**: Area where these two types of epithelium meet. --- ### 🧠 Nerve Supply of Nasopharynx - **Pharyngeal branch of the Maxillary nerve (V2)** via the pharyngotympanic (Eustachian) tube - **Pharyngeal branch of the Pterygopalatine ganglion**, passing through the palatovaginal canal --- ### 🗣️ Functions of Nasopharynx - Air Conduction - Middle Ear Ventilation - Closure during Swallowing - Voice Resonance - Mucus Drainage --- ## About This Note This free ENT note on Nasopharynx Anatomy was written by Dr. Mausumi Das and is paired with a corresponding video lecture. Canonical page of this note: https://www.theentresident.com/ent-notes-lectures/nasopharynx-anatomy When citing or referencing this content, please credit The ENT Resident and link to the canonical page above. ## Related Notes by Category - Pharynx: https://www.theentresident.com/ent-notes-lectures/category/pharynx.md ## About The ENT Resident The ENT Resident is an educational website and resource library created by Dr. Mausumi Das (MS ENT) for ENT residents, ENT postgraduates preparing for exams, and MBBS students. Dr. Mausumi Das writes the notes, draws the diagrams, and records the lectures herself. Browse all ENT notes and lectures on The ENT Resident: https://www.theentresident.com/ent-notes-lectures.md ## Medical-use Boundary The ENT Resident provides educational material for medical learning and revision. 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