Nasopharyngeal mechanoreceptors and their role in autoregulation of endotympanic pressure.
Gairn's method for nerve endings was used to study the mucous membrane of the nasopharynx. A simple type of end bulb was found in the fossa of Rosenmüller. The end bulbs were especially abundant near the tubal orifice. They are probably part of a pressure sensor mechanism having a direct reflex control on Eustachian tube musculature for the equalisation of middle ear pressure.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004432:Ear, Middle / Q000502:physiology*; D005064:Eustachian Tube / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006706:Homeostasis; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008465:Mechanoreceptors / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009305:Nasopharynx / Q000294:innervation*; D011312:Pressure