Logo

    Related Topics

    From Digestive System

    Tongue
    Muscular organ aiding in taste, speech, and food manipulation.
    Sublingual Glands
    Salivary glands beneath the tongue.
    Cheeks
    Lateral walls of the oral cavity composed of muscle and fat.
    Lower Esophageal Sphincter
    Muscle at the junction of esophagus and stomach.
    Common Hepatic Duct
    Carries bile from liver to bile duct.
    Gingiva
    Gums; soft tissue covering the bones of the jaw.
    Quadrate Lobe
    Small lobe located between gallbladder and round ligament.
    Left Lobe
    Smaller lobe of the liver.
    Anus
    Opening through which feces are expelled.
    Duodenum
    First portion of the small intestine.
    Lips
    Fleshy borders of the mouth that aid in speech and food intake.
    Palatine Tonsils
    Lymphatic tissues on either side of the oropharynx.
    Right Lobe
    Larger functional lobe of the liver.
    Soft Palate
    Muscular posterior part of the roof of the mouth.
    Oropharynx
    Middle region of the pharynx behind the oral cavity.
    Lingual Frenulum
    Fold of mucous membrane anchoring the tongue to the floor of the mouth.
    Teniae Coli
    Longitudinal muscle bands of colon.
    Haustra
    Pouch-like segments of colon.
    Pylorus
    Distal part of stomach leading to duodenum.
    Tail of Pancreas
    Tapered end of pancreas near spleen.
    Jejunum
    Second portion of the small intestine.
    Rectum
    Straight section of the colon leading to anus.
    Epiploic Appendages
    Fat-filled pouches attached to colon.
    Ileum
    Final and longest portion of the small intestine.
    Pyloric Sphincter
    Regulates passage of chyme from stomach to duodenum.

    Nasopharynx

    Reviewed by our medical team

    Superior region of pharynx behind the nasal cavity.

    Overview

    The nasopharynx is the uppermost region of the pharynx, located behind the nasal cavity and above the soft palate. While it is primarily a respiratory structure, it also plays an indirect role in digestion by ensuring proper separation of the respiratory and digestive tracts during swallowing. It forms part of the passage for air from the nasal cavity to the oropharynx and houses important lymphoid tissue such as the pharyngeal tonsil (adenoids).

    Location

    The nasopharynx is situated in the posterior nasal cavity and extends:

    • From the posterior choanae (internal nostrils) anteriorly

    • To the superior border of the soft palate inferiorly

    • Behind the nasal cavity and above the oropharynx

    It lies anterior to the cervical spine and is continuous inferiorly with the oropharynx. The nasopharynx is connected laterally to the middle ear cavity via the pharyngotympanic (Eustachian) tubes.

    Structure

    The nasopharynx is a rigid, air-filled space lined with:

    • Respiratory epithelium: Ciliated pseudostratified columnar epithelium with goblet cells

    • Pharyngeal tonsil (adenoids): Lymphoid tissue in the roof and posterior wall, part of Waldeyer’s ring

    • Opening of the auditory (Eustachian) tube: Located on the lateral wall and surrounded by the torus tubarius

    • Salpingopharyngeal fold: A mucosal ridge that runs downward from the torus tubarius

    Unlike the oropharynx, the nasopharynx has a relatively rigid structure due to its close relationship with the base of the skull and cervical spine.

    Function

    The primary functions of the nasopharynx include:

    • Air conduction: Provides a passage for inhaled air from the nasal cavity to the lower pharynx and trachea

    • Protection during swallowing: The soft palate elevates to block the nasopharynx, preventing food or liquid from entering the nasal cavity

    • Auditory tube drainage and pressure equalization: Maintains middle ear pressure by connecting the pharynx to the tympanic cavity

    Physiological Role(s)

    Although not directly involved in digestion, the nasopharynx contributes to digestive and respiratory physiology by:

    • Swallowing coordination: During swallowing, the soft palate closes off the nasopharynx to prevent nasopharyngeal regurgitation

    • Immune surveillance: The adenoids monitor inhaled pathogens and contribute to mucosal immunity

    • Resonance in speech: Provides resonance for certain speech sounds, especially nasal consonants

    These roles ensure the separation of food and air pathways and contribute to proper oral-pharyngeal coordination.

    Clinical Significance

    The nasopharynx is involved in various clinical conditions:

    • Adenoid hypertrophy: Enlarged adenoids can obstruct airflow, cause mouth breathing, sleep apnea, or contribute to recurrent ear infections

    • Nasopharyngeal carcinoma: A malignant tumor arising from the epithelial lining, more common in Southeast Asia; may present with nasal obstruction, epistaxis, or cervical lymphadenopathy

    • Eustachian tube dysfunction: Inflammation of the nasopharynx (e.g., during upper respiratory infections) can block the auditory tube, leading to otitis media

    • Velopharyngeal insufficiency: Incomplete closure of the soft palate during speech or swallowing, causing nasal regurgitation or hypernasal speech

    • Endoscopic evaluation: The nasopharynx is often examined via nasal endoscopy to evaluate tumors, adenoids, or chronic infections

    While not a digestive organ per se, the nasopharynx’s close integration with swallowing and airway protection makes it highly relevant in both ENT and gastrointestinal coordination.

    Did you know? The pyloric sphincter controls the passage of food from the stomach into the small intestine.