Nasopharynx

Looks like

The upper part of the throat, behind the nose and above the soft palate.

What it does

Passes air from the nose to the throat; holds the adenoids and the Eustachian tube openings.

Keeping it well

Large adenoids in children cause snoring and glue ear; in adults, one-sided glue ear or a neck lump that persists needs examination.

Related conditions

• Bad breath (halitosis)
• Burning mouth syndrome
• Common cold
• Diphtheria
• Hand, foot and mouth disease
• Influenza
• Lichen planus
• Mouth ulcers (aphthous stomatitis)
• Obstructive sleep apnoea
• Pemphigus vulgaris
• Scarlet fever
• Stevens–Johnson syndrome / toxic epidermal necrolysis