This document provides an overview of head and neck anatomy and histology. It discusses the importance of understanding head and neck anatomy for diagnosis, staging, and determining appropriate therapy for diseases localized to or extending from the head and neck region. Key areas covered include the suprahyoid and infrahyoid neck, larynx, nasopharynx, oropharynx, oral cavity, lymph nodes, and histology of various structures. The document emphasizes differences in lymphatic drainage and metastatic potential based on embryonic origin of parts of the larynx.

1. ANATOMY AND
HISTOLOGY OFTHE
HEAD & NECK
Dr.Sameera Rashid
ResidentAnatomical pathology

2. Why so important?
■ Communication with surgeons, radiologists
■ Aiding the diagnosis
■ Staging
■ Therapy depends on localization and extension of disease.

3. ■ Suprahyoid neck:
– Nasopharynx
– Oral cavity
– Oropharynx
■ Infrahyoid neck
– Larynx
– hypopharynx

4. The Division??
■ Two embryological separate parts of the larynx
■ The supraglottis has buccopharyngeal origin: rich lymphatic pathways LN metastases
are more frequent
■ The glottis and the subglottis are derived from the tracheobronchial buds: fewer
lymphatic pathways, Rare LN metastasis

5. Nasopharynx
■ Anterior: Nasal cavity
■ Post: spine
■ Contains opening of the
eustachian tube, adenoids
■ Rich capillary lymphatic
plexus—Retropharyngeal LN

9. Oropharynx
■ Anterior: Oral cavity
■ Post:Vertebral column
■ Contents:The tonsils
■ Oral cavity: stratified squamous with
parakeratosis.

11. The oral cavity is
separated from the
oropharynx by
■ the anterior tonsillar pillars
■ the circumvallate papillae,
■ Junction of soft and hard palate

14. Palatine tonsils

16. Retromolar Gingiva
(Retromolar
Trigone).
■ This is the attached mucosa
overlying the ascending
ramus of the mandible from
the level of the posterior
surface of the last molar
tooth and the apex
superiorly, adjacent to the
tuberosity of the maxilla.

17. Lymph nodes
■ Level I: submental, submandibular
■ Level II: upper jugular
■ Level III: mid jugular
■ Level IV: lower jugular
■ LevelV: posterior triangle
■ LevelVI: pre-laryngeal,
pre/paratracheal
■ LevelVII: upper mediastinal

23.  Epiglottis: stratified squamous epithelium similar to oral cavity, with modified
salivary glands that secrete thick mucous;
 False vocal cords and other supraglottic larynx: ciliated, columnar epithelium,with
submucosal modified salivary gland epithelium
 Glottis: space between two vocal cords
 Hypopharynx: covered by non-keratinizing stratified squamous epithelium; contains
mucosal glands, scattered lymphoid aggregates and rich lymphatic plexus
 True vocal cords: stratified squamous epithelium with no / rare submucosal glands
 Subglottic larynx: epithelium resembles trachea / major bronchi - ciliated columnar
epithelium with submucosal glands

24. ■ The epiglottic epithelium is stratified and
squamous.The epithelium in the false
cords is ciliated columnar, whereas the
epithelium in the true cords is stratified
squamous.

25. In case of tumor invasion of the anterior
commissure, all neighboring structures
are at risk for neoplastic all neighboring
structures are at risk for neoplastic
destruction