Abstract:

Objective　This paper compared the anatomy and histology of nasopharyngeal development in mice and human, providing references for the study on pathogenesis of diseases of the nasopharynx.　Methods　We investigated the structure and mucosal morphology of the nasopharynx in human fetuses during embryonic 9-28 weeks and mouse fetuses during embryonic 9.5~19.5 days by histology.　Results　The nasopharynx of human fetus manifested as an irregular cube with a 120-degree arc-shaped posterior wall. There were many foils, crypts and lymphoid tissue in the nasopharynx. The nasopharynx of mice manifested as an arc lumen with an approximately straight line. There was not crypt or lymphoid tissue in the nasopharynx. Most of mucosae in the nasopharynx were pseudostratified ciliated columnar epithelium with a small amount of stratified squamous epithelium and transitional epithelium in human fetuses of embryonic 13-28 weeks. All of the nasopharyngeal mucosae in mouse fetuses were pseudostratified ciliated columnar epithelium.　Conclusion　The differences of anatomy and histology of nasopharyngx in mice and human fetuses may lead to different susceptibilities to some diseases.

Key words: Mouse, Human, Fetus, Nasopharyngeal mucosa, Development