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.

---

nasopharynx British  

/ -ˌfærɪnˈdʒɪəl, ˌneɪzəʊˈfærɪŋks, ˌneɪzəʊfəˈrɪndʒɪəl /

noun

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

---

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• nasopharyngeal
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• nasopharynges
  plural
• nasopharynxes
  plural

Etymology

Origin of nasopharynx

First recorded in 1875–80; naso- + pharynx