Passavant’s ridge

Passavant's ridge^[1] is a mucous elevation situated behind the floor of the naso-pharynx.

Anatomy

The ridge is formed by the palatial-pharyngeal sphincter. Palatial-pharyngeal muscle originates from the upper surface of palatial Maurois pone-by anterior and posterior fascicle, which are separated by the insertion of levator veli palatini. Both fasciculi join laterally to form a single muscle that passes downward and backward under cover of the palato pharyngeal arch. In the pharynx, it joins with the salpingo pharyngeus muscles and is inserted. A few fibres of palato pharyngeus muscle sweep backward under cover of the passavant's ridge and form a U-shaped sling of palatopharyngeal sphincter.when soft palate is elevated it comes in contact with ridge,the two together closing pharyngeal isthmus between nasopharynx and oropharynx

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