Roof —posterior portion of the body of the sphenoid bone and basilar portion of the occipital bone

Floor —soft palate (upper surface)

Anterior —choanae of the nasal cavity

Posterior —mucosa covering superior constrictor

Lateral —mucosa covering superior constrictor

Ostium of the auditory tube opens into the nasopharynx

Torus tubarius is an elevation formed by the base of the cartilaginous portion of the auditory tube, which lies superior to the ostium of the tube

Torus levatorius is an elevation of mucous membrane that lies over the levator veli palatini m.

Salpingopharyngeal fold is mucous membrane that lies over the salpingopharyngeus m., connecting the torus tubarius to the lateral wall of the pharynx

Pharyngeal recess is located posterior to the salpingopharyngeal fold and contains the pharyngeal tonsil (adenoid)

Pharyngeal tonsil (adenoid) is mucosa-associated lymphatic tissue (MALT) located along the midline

Tubal tonsils are MALT located posterior to the opening of each auditory tube and are considered by some authors to be extensions of the pharyngeal tonsil

Nasopharynx epithelium:

Anterior —pseudostratified columnar with cilia in anterior portion near nasal cavity

Posterior —stratified squamous nonkeratinized in posterior portion

Has a respiratory function

The auditory tube connects the middle ear with the nasopharynx, which helps equalize air pressure on both sides of the tympanic membrane

The cartilaginous portion of the auditory tube is normally closed, except during deglutition and yawning

The auditory tube allows spread of infections between the middle ear and the nasopharynx

The roof and walls tend to be firm and do not close during muscular contraction of the pharyngeal and palatal muscles

Superior —nasopharynx

Inferior —superior border of epiglottis

Anterior —palatoglossal fold of the oral cavity (oropharyngeal isthmus)

Posterior —mucosa covering the superior and middle constrictor mm.

Lateral —mucosa covering the superior and middle constrictor mm.

Palatine tonsils are located in the oropharynx between the palatoglossal and palatopharyngeal folds (tonsillar sinus)

Palatopharyngeal fold is an elevation of mucous membrane that lies over the palatopharyngeal m.

Epiglottic valleculae are the depressions immediately posterior to the root of the tongue

Oropharynx epithelium is stratified squamous nonkeratinized

Superior —oropharynx

Inferior —inferior border of cricoid cartilage (where it becomes continuous with esophagus)

Anterior —larynx

Posterior —mucosa covering middle and inferior constrictor mm.

Lateral —mucosa covering middle and inferior constrictor mm.

Piriform recess is a small depression located on the lateral wall of the laryngopharyngeal cavity on either side of the entrance to the larynx

Laryngopharynx epithelium is stratified squamous nonkeratinized

Communicates with the larynx

The piriform recess is a potential location for objects to become lodged