There are a lot of diseases, one way or another connected with the nasopharynx. A common cold or cough is no exception, but there are more serious diseases. To understand them and their nature, you need to know exactly how the nasopharynx is arranged and what specifically affects its health.
In medicine, the anatomy of the nasopharynx is considered in the anatomy of the pharynx section. At the same time, the pharynx is both the upper part of the respiratory tract and the beginning of the digestive tract.
The pharynx itself is usually divided into three parts: this is the upper part of the pharynx (nasopharynx, or nose), the middle part of the pharynx (oropharynx, or mouth), the lower part of the pharynx (larynx, or larynx).
The structure of the nasopharynx
The nasopharynx is a small cavity. It connects through the internal holes (choana) with the nasal cavity. The arch of the pharynx, which is also called the upper wall of the pharynx, is in contact with the sphenoid bone and the occipital bone (part of it). The back wall of the pharynx borders on the first and second vertebrae of the neck. The bottom of the nasopharynx smoothly passes into the oral part of the pharynx.
The structure of the nasopharynx also includes the side walls, on which there are openings of the auditory or, as they are also called, Eustachian tubes. These holes are called pharyngeal. They are surrounded by a roll of cartilage at the top and bottom. Through pharyngeal openings, the nose is connected to the left tympanic cavity and to the right tympanic cavity. On the side walls and on the arch of the pharynx are tonsils. They are called pharyngeal tonsil and tube tonsils, which are an accumulation of lymphoid tissue.
When it becomes necessary to contact a medical institution for a disease of ENT organs, due to the fact that the structure of the nasopharynx is quite complicated, the use of only a nasal mirror (when examined by a patient's doctor) is insufficient. Therefore, additional examination methods are used, in particular, endoscopy of the nasopharynx.
Advantages of endoscopic examination of the nasopharynx compared with other methods:
- the doctor has the opportunity to personally see and evaluate the state of the nasopharynx (the presence of the inflammatory process and its severity);
- lack of radiation (which is important both for the patient and for the doctor);
- the ability to control the treatment process;
- it is permissible to display the results of the study on a computer monitor and record on removable media.
This type of examination has no contraindications.
Before the examination, preliminary preparation of the patient is carried out with the goal of anesthesia. To do this, a solution is injected, the main component of which is lidocaine in a certain concentration.
The examination is carried out using flexible endoscopes (fiberscopes). Their diameters are different, which allows diagnostics even for young children. During the study, the patient either sits or lies at the discretion of the doctor.
This type of endoscopy is divided into three main stages.
At the first stage, a detailed examination of the nasal cavity is performed.
At the second stage, when the fiberscope advances to the internal holes (choan), it becomes possible to examine the nasopharynx. Examine at this examination: the holes of the auditory tubes (their mouth), cartilage rollers, tube tonsils, pharyngeal tonsil, the condition of the mucous membranes.
In the third stage, the fiberscope extends backward. In this case, the middle and posterior nasal passages are examined.
The nasopharynx is an essential part of the body, and therefore it is simply necessary to monitor its health. If necessary, seek advice and examination only from professionals who can carry out all the manipulations at the proper level. The structure of the nasopharynx is a complex system, however, examination of it usually does not bring any difficulties and discomfort.