nasopharynx

[ ney-zoh-far-ingks ]

noun

, Anatomy.

, plural na·so·pha·ryn·ges [ney-zoh-f, uh, -, rin, -jeez], na·so·phar·ynx·es.

1. the part of the pharynx behind and above the soft palate, directly continuous with the nasal passages. Compare oropharynx ( def 2 ).

nasopharynx

/ -ˌfærɪnˈdʒɪəl; ˌneɪzəʊˈfærɪŋks; ˌneɪzəʊfəˈrɪndʒɪəl /

noun

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

Derived Forms

• nasopharyngeal, adjective

Other Words From

• na·so·pha·ryn·ge·al [ney-zoh-f, uh, -, rin, -jee-, uh, l, -j, uh, l, -far-, uh, n-, jee, -, uh, l], adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of nasopharynx¹

First recorded in 1875–80; naso- + pharynx

Example Sentences

During the early months of the pandemic, these tests generally required medical professionals to stick a swab deep into a patient’s nasopharynx, a procedure that can be deeply uncomfortable and put clinicians at risk.

From New York Times

He boasts they show his test is better than the standard, uncomfortable swab of the nasopharynx test backed by the federal agency — though they have yet to be peer-reviewed or published independently.

From Los Angeles Times

Federal COVID-19 czar Dr. Anthony Fauci said last month that even after being fully vaccinated, people could “have the virus in your nasopharynx that you could shed. And theoretically, you could infect someone else.”

From Los Angeles Times

That “means you can have virus in your nasopharynx that you could shed. And theoretically, you could infect someone else,” Fauci said.

From Los Angeles Times

Dr. Fauci said masks are still necessary for vaccinated people because there’s a chance they could still carry the virus in their nasopharynx while remaining asymptomatic — a theory he said had not yet been proven.

From Washington Times