Definition

The area of the throat located above the soft palate that connects to the nasal passages.

Example

The doctor examined the patient's nasopharynx to check for any signs of infection.

Conversation

Did you know that the nasopharynx is an important part of our respiratory system?

Really? I had no idea it played such a role.

Yeah, it connects the nasal passages to the throat.

That makes sense! It's interesting how our bodies work.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Nasopharynx → It is formed from "naso-" (from Latin "nasus", meaning nose) and "pharynx" (from Greek "pharynx", meaning throat). The term refers to the part of the throat that is located behind the nose.

Memory Tip

Think of the 'nose' ('naso-') leading into the 'throat' ('pharynx') — that's how the nasopharynx connects these two parts of the body.

Visually Confused Words