Oropharyngeal: meaning, definitions and examples

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oropharyngeal

 

[ ˌɔrəˈfɛrɪnˈdʒiəl ]

Adjective
Context #1 | Adjective

medical terminology

Oropharyngeal refers to the part of the throat situated at the back of the mouth and is involved in the processes of swallowing and breathing. It is a key area in both the digestive and respiratory tracts, linking the oral cavity to the esophagus and the larynx.

Synonyms

pharyngeal, throat-related.

Examples of usage

  • The oropharyngeal region is examined during a throat check.
  • Inflammation in the oropharyngeal area can lead to swallowing difficulties.
  • Certain cancers can develop in the oropharyngeal region.
  • Oropharyngeal exercises can help improve breathing.

Translations

Translations of the word "oropharyngeal" in other languages:

🇵🇹 oruofaringeal

🇮🇳 ओरोफेरिंजियल

🇩🇪 oropharyngeal

🇮🇩 orofaringeal

🇺🇦 орофарингеальний

🇵🇱 orofaryngeal

🇯🇵 口咽の (こういんの)

🇫🇷 oropharyngé

🇪🇸 orofaríngeo

🇹🇷 orofaringeal

🇰🇷 구강인두의 (gugangindueui)

🇸🇦 البلعوم الفموي (albal‘oom alfamawi)

🇨🇿 orofaryngeální

🇸🇰 orofaryngeálny

🇨🇳 口咽的 (kǒuyān de)

🇸🇮 orofaringealni

🇮🇸 orofaryngal

🇰🇿 орафарингальды

🇬🇪 ოროფარინგული (orofarinquli)

🇦🇿 orofaringeal

🇲🇽 orofaríngeo

Etymology

The term 'oropharyngeal' is a compound word derived from the Latin roots 'oro-', meaning 'mouth', and 'pharyngeal', which is derived from 'pharynx', the anatomical term for the throat. The word evolved in medical terminology to describe conditions and anatomical features relating specifically to the area of the throat that is accessible through the oral cavity. Its use in the English language can be traced back to the 19th century, as medical science advanced and the need for precise anatomical descriptors became more pronounced, particularly in fields such as otolaryngology and oncology. With the increasing recognition of oropharyngeal disorders, including those linked to sleep apnea and HPV-related cancers, the term has gained prominence in both clinical settings and public health discussions.

Word Frequency Rank

This word's position of #31,310 indicates it's among the more rare English words. While understanding it broadens your vocabulary, focus on more common words first.