The nasopharynx is located posterior to which structure?

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Multiple Choice

The nasopharynx is located posterior to which structure?

The nasopharynx sits at the top of the pharynx, behind the nasal cavity and above the soft palate. It begins where the nasal cavity opens into the pharynx at the internal nares (the posterior nasal openings). Because of this position, it is posterior to the internal nares and superior to the soft palate, making that combined description the best way to locate it. This placement also explains why air from the nose passes into the nasopharynx, and why structures like the pharyngeal tonsils and Eustachian tube openings are found there.

The nasopharynx sits at the top of the pharynx, behind the nasal cavity and above the soft palate. It begins where the nasal cavity opens into the pharynx at the internal nares (the posterior nasal openings). Because of this position, it is posterior to the internal nares and superior to the soft palate, making that combined description the best way to locate it. This placement also explains why air from the nose passes into the nasopharynx, and why structures like the pharyngeal tonsils and Eustachian tube openings are found there.

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