Structure/Morphology
The nasopharyngeal mucosa begins at the posterior aspect of the nasal cavity. It extends in a posteroinferior manner to the uvula of the soft palate where it is continuous with the mucosa of the oropharynx. Underlying the mucosa is the pharyngobasillar fascia and the superior pharyngeal constrictor muscle.
Related parts of the anatomy
Key Features & Anatomical Relations
The auditory tube (also known as the pharyngotympanic or the Eustachian tube) opens into the nasopharynx. The mucosal lining of the pharynx is continuous with the auditory tube and, thus, infections may spread from the oral or nasal cavities to the ear.
A mucosal fold forms around the opening of the auditory tube called the torus tubarius. It extends inferiorly as the salpingopharyngeal fold that covers the salpingopharyngeus muscle.
