Which of the following is listed as an air space seen on panoramic images?

• A. Nasopharynx
• B. Oral cavity
• C. Mandible
• D. Soft palate

Answer: (A)

Air spaces show up as radiolucent (dark) areas on panoramic radiographs because air has much lower density than bone or soft tissue. The nasopharynx is an actual air-filled space located behind the nasal cavity and above the soft palate, so it appears as a dark band along the midline on panoramic images. The other options are not true air spaces: the oral cavity, while it may contain air, is bounded by teeth and soft tissues and doesn’t present as a distinct radiolucent space; the mandible is bone and appears radiopaque; the soft palate is soft tissue and doesn’t create a noticeable air-space appearance. Therefore, the nasopharynx is the air-filled region seen on these images.