Nasopharynx

The passage connecting the nasal cavity behind the nose to the top of the throat behind the soft palate. The nasopharynx is part of the respiratory tract and forms the upper section of the pharynx. During swallowing, the nasopharynx is sealed off by the soft palate pressing against the back of the throat, preventing food from entering. It contains the lower openings of the eustachian tubes (passages connecting the back of the nose to the middle ear) and, in children, the adenoids, which can enlarge to block the nasopharynx, forcing the child to breathe through the mouth.