Posterior epistaxis arises from the Woodruff plexus; which option lists the correct plexus?

Posterior epistaxis arises from the Woodruff plexus; which option lists the correct plexus?

• A. Kiesselbach plexus
• B. Woodruff plexus
• C. Sphenopalatine artery
• D. Pterygopalatine plexus

Answer: (B)

Posterior epistaxis comes from a posterior nasal venous network known as Woodruff's plexus, located in the posterior nasal cavity and connected to the branches of the sphenopalatine artery. This makes posterior bleeds typically brisk and harder to control with simple anterior packing, which is why they’re managed differently from anterior bleeds. The anterior nasal bleed you hear about most often comes from Kiesselbach's plexus on the nasal septum, a network of vessels in the front that feeds the common, lighter bleeds. Although the sphenopalatine artery supplies the posterior nasal wall and can be involved in these bleeds, the specific plexus associated with posterior epistaxis is Woodruff's. The other option, pterygopalatine plexus, is a less commonly cited vascular network in this context and is not the standard descriptor for the source of posterior nasal hemorrhage.

Posterior epistaxis comes from a posterior nasal venous network known as Woodruff's plexus, located in the posterior nasal cavity and connected to the branches of the sphenopalatine artery. This makes posterior bleeds typically brisk and harder to control with simple anterior packing, which is why they’re managed differently from anterior bleeds. The anterior nasal bleed you hear about most often comes from Kiesselbach's plexus on the nasal septum, a network of vessels in the front that feeds the common, lighter bleeds. Although the sphenopalatine artery supplies the posterior nasal wall and can be involved in these bleeds, the specific plexus associated with posterior epistaxis is Woodruff's. The other option, pterygopalatine plexus, is a less commonly cited vascular network in this context and is not the standard descriptor for the source of posterior nasal hemorrhage.