nasopharynx

American  

[ney-zoh-far-ingks] / ˌneɪ zoʊˈfær ɪŋks /

noun

Anatomy.

nasopharynges, plural nasopharynxes plural

1. the part of the pharynx behind and above the soft palate, directly continuous with the nasal passages.

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nasopharynx British  

/ -ˌfærɪnˈdʒɪəl, ˌneɪzəʊˈfærɪŋks, ˌneɪzəʊfəˈrɪndʒɪəl /

noun

1. the part of the pharynx situated above and behind the soft palate

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Other Word Forms

• nasopharyngeal
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of nasopharynx

First recorded in 1875–80; naso- + pharynx

Example Sentences

Bush, the EPA finally deemed formaldehyde a probable human carcinogen and calculated the likelihood of it causing an extremely rare cancer that affects a part of the throat called the nasopharynx.

From Salon • Dec. 9, 2024

Both the uvula and soft palate move like a pendulum during swallowing, swinging upward to close off the nasopharynx to prevent ingested materials from entering the nasal cavity.

From Textbooks • Jun. 19, 2013

Impulses are then sent back to the uvula and soft palate, causing them to move upward and close off the nasopharynx.

From Textbooks • Jun. 19, 2013

Macrophages are found in the skin and in the lining of mucosal surfaces, such as the nasopharynx, stomach, lungs, and intestines.

From Textbooks • Jun. 19, 2013

Do not try to confirm the diagnosis of adenoids by a digital examination of the nasopharynx.

From Health Work in the Public Schools by Ayres, Leonard Porter