ln order to collect morphological data on the mesopharynx, we measured the distances between the skull and epiglottic vallecula and between the external naris and epiglottic vallecular, and investigated the influences of gender and age on the major axis of the mesopharynx. The subjects were 1 86 patients (1 OO males and 86 females) who undervvent computed tomography (CT) to diagnose suspected head and neck cancers or to evaluate the patjent for third molar extraction, at the Department of

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... Rad iology, Osaka Dental University Hospital, between January 2011 and Apri1 201 4. We used a multi-detecto rlmulti-slice-type CT scanner. The reference point of the sku11 was set to the lowest point ot the inner contour of the selta turcica (Si}, and the facial measurement point was set to the opening of the external naris (En). Reference points were also set to the lowest point of the palatine uvula (Pu) and the deepest point of the epiglottis (Ev), and the region between these vvas defined as the mesopharynx."" The Si-Pu, Si-Ev, Pu-Ev, and En-Ev distances (4 regions) were measured and analyzed.We tound that all distances were signiticantly greater in males than females. On analysis of the relationships between age and distances, we found correlations among Si-Ev, Pu-Ev and En-Ev in males. The resuEts of this experiment showed that gender differences in the me$opharynx $hould be taken into consideration when positioning the head for swallowing pressure measurements.