Woodruff's plexus, an important source of posterior epistaxis, is located in which region of the nasal cavity and receives its blood supply primarily from:

• A Anterior nasal septum; anterior ethmoidal and superior labial arteries
• B Middle turbinate; posterior ethmoidal artery
• C Posterior nasal septum; internal carotid via ophthalmic artery branches
• D Posterior nasal floor and inferior meatus; sphenopalatine and ascending pharyngeal arteries ✓

Explanation

Woodruff's plexus is located on the posterior nasal floor and the lower part of the inferior turbinate/inferior meatus region. It is formed by anastomoses of the posterior nasal artery (terminal branch of the sphenopalatine artery, a branch of the maxillary artery from the external carotid) and the ascending pharyngeal artery. This plexus is the primary source of posterior epistaxis, which is more difficult to control than anterior (Kiesselbach's plexus) bleeding and often requires sphenopalatine artery ligation or embolization.

Reference: Dhingra Diseases of Ear, Nose and Throat, 7th ed.

High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP

Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.