Nasopharynx
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At the time the article was created Henry Knipe had no recorded disclosures.
View Henry Knipe's current disclosuresAt the time the article was last revised Craig Hacking had the following disclosures:
- Philips Australia, Paid speaker at Philips Spectral CT events (ongoing)
These were assessed during peer review and were determined to not be relevant to the changes that were made.
View Craig Hacking's current disclosures- Nasopharynges
- Nasopharynxes
The nasopharynx (plural: nasopharynges or nasopharynxes) forms the superior-most part of the pharynx, in continuity with the inferior oropharynx, and the posterior continuation of the anterior nasal cavity. It also forms part of the upper respiratory tract.
On this page:
Gross anatomy
Boundaries
anteriorly: posterior nares and posterior margin of nasal septum 1,2
inferiorly: soft palate 2. Levator veli palatini accompanies the Eustachian tube and inserts into posterior part of soft palate. Tensor veli palatini runs around the nasopharynx and hooks around the pterygoid hamulus before inserts into membranous part of nasopharynx 5.
-
superiorly: basisphenoid and basiocciput 1,2
roof of the nasopharynx is called the vault (or fornix) of the pharynx, where the mucosa firmly attaches to the sphenoid and pharyngobasilar fascia
adenoid lymphoid tissue is also located at the roof 5
posteriorly: C1 and C2 1
-
laterally
the pharyngeal opening of the Eustachian tube is located in the center of the lateral wall 1,2 It pierces the pharyngobasilar fascia. Posterior to the cartilaginous end of the tube is ridge named torus tubarius. Behind the torus tubarius is fossa of Rosenmuller 5
lymphoid tissue aggregates, also known as the tubal tonsil occur around the opening of the Eustachian tube 1,3
the fossa of Rosenmüller lies between the posterior margin of the Eustachian tube and the posterior wall of the nasopharynx 1,2
separated posterolaterally from the carotid sheath by styloid process and styloid muscle 5
Arterial supply
ascending palatine branch of facial artery 2
Venous drainage
-
the veins form plexuses which drain into the internal jugular vein
Lymphatic drainage
Lymphatic drainage in the nasopharynx occurs laterally and medially:
lateral drainage pathway: lymph vessels traverse the superior pharyngeal constrictor muscle and drain into the lateral retropharyngeal, deep cervical and posterior triangle lymph nodes 4
medial drainage pathway: lymph vessels from the roof and posterior wall drain into the median retropharyngeal lymph nodes 4
Innervation
-
sensory
pharyngeal nerve of the maxillary division of the trigeminal nerve (CN Vb) 2
glossopharyngeal nerve (CN IX) 2
-
motor
pharyngeal plexus: contains branches of cranial nerves IX and X together with sympathetic fibers 2
References
- 1. DSc SSP. Gray's Anatomy: The Anatomical Basis of Clinical Practice, Expert Consult - Online and Print, 40e. Churchill Livingstone. ISBN: 9780443066849
- 2. Joiner M C, van der Koegel A. Basic Clinical Radiobiology, Fifth Edition. CRC Press. (2016) ISBN: 9781444179637
- 3. Grossman RI, Yousem DM. Neuroradiology. Mosby. (2003) ISBN: 9780323005081
- 4. Mukherji SK, Armao D, Joshi VM. Cervical nodal metastases in squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck: what to expect. (2001) Head & neck. 23 (11): 995-1005. doi:10.1002/hed.1144 - Pubmed
- 5. Stephanie Ryan, Michelle McNicholas, Stephen J. Eustace. Anatomy for Diagnostic Imaging. (2011) Page 33. ISBN: 9780702029714 - Google Books
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