nasopharynx

noun

Etymology: Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *néh₂sder. Proto-Italic *nāssos Latin nāsus Ancient Greek -ο- (-o-)der. Latin -o-bor. English -o- English naso- Ancient Greek φάρυγξ (phárunx)bor. New Latin pharynxbor. English pharynx English nasopharynx From naso- + pharynx.

1. The nasal part of the pharynx, lying behind the nose and above the level of the soft palate.

   “Occasionally she gasped out "Joe!" — a flat animal cry that her slack vocal cords made unfemininely deep, that her nasopharynx, choked with mucus, robbed of all resonance.”