Nasopharynx

What is the nasopharynx?

Your nasopharynx is the top part of your throat (pharynx). It’s a muscular, box-shaped passageway behind your nose, just above the roof of your mouth. Your nasopharynx allows air to pass from your nose into your windpipe (trachea) and eventually, into your lungs.

As the part of your throat closest to your nose, your nasopharynx is particularly vulnerable to germs, like the ones that cause upper respiratory infections. Taking precautions to keep from getting sick can help protect your nasopharynx.

What is the function of your nasopharynx?

The main function of your nasopharynx is to connect your nasal passages to the rest of your respiratory system. It’s part of a passageway that allows air to flow from your nose to your lungs.

Your nasopharynx also helps:

• Control pressure between your nasopharynx and middle ear
• Filter dust, debris and germs out of the air you breathe
• Shape how your voice sounds

Where is the nasopharynx?

Your nasopharynx is located toward the bottom and back of your skull. It’s behind your nose and above the roof of your mouth.

The top of your nasopharynx connects to your nasal cavity. The bottom connects to your oropharynx (middle throat), leading to your hypopharynx (lower throat), windpipe and eventually, lungs.

What does the nasopharynx contain?

Your nasopharynx includes several important structures:

• Eustachian tubes. These tubes run from your middle ear to your nasopharynx. They equalize ear pressure and drain fluid from your ear.
• Adenoids. These glands are part of your immune system. They help protect your body from germs like viruses and bacteria during childhood. (Your adenoids usually disappear by adulthood.)

What common conditions affect the nasopharynx?

The most common condition that affects your nasopharynx is nasopharyngitis, otherwise known as the common cold. In nasopharyngitis, a virus (often, rhinovirus) infects your nasopharynx, causing swelling of your nasal passages and throat.

Other conditions that can affect the nasopharynx include:

• Enlarged adenoids. Repeat infections, allergies or irritants can make your child’s adenoids swell. The swelling can block your child’s passageways, making it hard to breathe through their nose.
• Granulomatosis with polyangiitis. This rare disease causes inflammation of the blood vessels in your nasopharynx, lungs and kidneys.
• Nasopharyngeal cyst. A cyst is a fluid-filled sac. Most that form in your nasopharynx don’t cause symptoms. But if you have one that is, you may need surgery to remove it.
• Benign nasopharyngeal tumor. This rare noncancerous tumor doesn’t spread, but it can grow and cause serious symptoms. An example is juvenile nasopharyngeal angiofibroma.
• Nasopharyngeal cancer. The most common type of cancer that forms in your nasopharynx is nasopharyngeal carcinoma. The most common sign is a painless lump in the back of your neck.

What are the symptoms of conditions affecting your nasopharynx?

Common signs and symptoms include:

• Cough
• Itchy or watery eyes
• Mild fatigue (tiredness)
• Runny nose
• Sneezing
• Sore throat
• Repeat ear infections
• Nasal congestion or obstruction (feeling like your nose is “stuffy” or clogged)
• Postnasal drip (mucus that accumulates in the back of your nose and drips down into your throat)

Signs of less common, more serious conditions (like cancer) include:

• Frequent, repeated headaches, sore throats or nosebleeds
• Vision changes
• Facial pain or numbness
• Pain or ringing in your ear
• Lump in your nose, throat or neck
• Trouble breathing, speaking or hearing

What are common tests to check my nasopharynx?

Common tests include:

• Nasopharyngeal swab to test for viruses and bacteria that cause infections
• Nasal endoscopy to check your nasal and sinus passageways for issues
• Imaging tests, like an X-ray or a CT scan, to check for abnormal growths

What are common treatments for my nasopharynx?

Colds usually go away on their own within a week or so. Other treatments include antibiotics for bacterial infections. Your child may need surgery to remove their adenoids (adenoidectomy). Or you may need surgical removal of cysts and tumors causing symptoms.

Treatments for nasopharyngeal cancer depend on your unique diagnosis.

How can I keep my nasopharynx healthy?

The best way to care for your nasopharynx is to reduce your risk of colds and other respiratory infections. You can:

• Isolate as needed. Avoid people who are sick. If you’re sick, stay home and keep your distance from others.
• Keep your hands clean. Wash your hands with soap and water or hand sanitizer. This is especially important after you cough, sneeze or blow your nose and before you handle food.
• Keep surfaces clean. Clean and disinfect surfaces that are touched a lot, like toys, door handles and phones.
• Cough courteously. Move away from others if you have to cough or sneeze. Cover your nose or mouth with a tissue. Cough or sneeze into the inside of your arm if you don’t have a tissue handy.

Contact a healthcare provider if you have cold symptoms that last longer than 10 days. Let them know if you’re experiencing symptoms that may be signs of something serious.

When should I call a healthcare provider?

Seek medical attention if you experience:

• Chills
• Cold symptoms that last longer than 10 days
• Fever, especially in babies
• Flu-like symptoms, including fever, body aches and fatigue (extreme tiredness)
• Frequent, repeated headaches, sore throats or nosebleeds
• Lump in your nose, throat or neck
• Pain or ringing in your ear
• Symptoms that seem unusual or very bad
• Trouble breathing, speaking or hearing