alleryStart learning →Colds often lead to ear infections because the auditory tubes open into which region?
AThe nasopharynx
BThe laryngopharynx
CThe oropharynx
DThe nasal cavity
Answer & Solution
Correct answer: A. The nasopharynx
1. The auditory tubes connect each middle ear cavity to the pharynx.
2. They open specifically into the nasopharynx.
3. That direct connection is the reason a cold in the upper airway can spread to the middle ear.
4. The oropharynx and laryngopharynx lie below this level and carry food as well as air, so neither is the site of the opening.
_Source: OpenStax Anatomy and Physiology (CC BY 4.0), Ch 22 "The Respiratory System", section 22.1 Organs and Structures of the Respiratory System_
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