Nasopharynx: Definition

What is the nasopharynx?

The nasopharynx is part of an area of the body called the upper aerodigestive tract. The nasopharynx is located where the inside of the nose (the nasal cavity) meets the back of the throat (the pharynx). The nasopharynx is lined by cells called squamous cells. These cells form a barrier on the surface of the nasopharynx called the epithelium. The tissue below the epithelium is called the stroma. Pathologists use the word mucosa to describe tissue that includes both the epithelium and the stroma.