-
- To save this word, you'll need to log in.
pharyngeal
adjective
pha·ryn·geal
ˌfer-ən-ˈjē-əl
fa-rən-;
fə-ˈrin-j(ē-)əl
: relating to or located or produced in the region of the pharynx
Examples of pharyngeal in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
In women, a quarter of oral cavity, esophageal and pharyngeal cancers were attributable to alcohol consumption.
—Isabella Cueto, STAT, 11 July 2024
Healthcare providers diagnosed the man with a pharyngeal rupture.
—Health Editorial Team, Health, 10 Nov. 2023
It was tested by manipulating a tongue depressor around the uvula, soft palate, and pharyngeal vault.
—Ncbi Rofl, Discover Magazine, 19 Dec. 2010
The spikey bits in the top middle are the pharyngeal teeth.
—Ariana Garcia, Chron, 15 Apr. 2023
In videos of the experiment, an eel hurls its body up a sandy ramp and grabs the piece of squid with its visible, standard-looking jaws only to suddenly slingshot the squid deeper into its mouth with an unseen flick of its second set of chompers, known as pharyngeal jaws.
—Alex Fox, Smithsonian Magazine, 24 June 2021
Accidental cell phone ingestion with pharyngeal impaction.
—Seriously Science, Discover Magazine, 16 Sep. 2015
Fortunately, the eel has come up with a neat strategy to circumvent this problem: an extra set of jaws, known as the pharyngeal jaws, located deep in its throat.
—Discover Magazine, 29 June 2010
Oral jaws are used to capture prey, while pharyngeal jaws located in the back of the mouth are used to chew and swallow.
—Jordan Mendoza, USA TODAY, 17 Nov. 2021
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of
Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback
about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
New Latin pharyngeus "of the pharynx" (from Medieval Latin pharyng-, pharynx pharynx + Latin -eus -eous) + -al entry 1
First Known Use
1754, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near pharyngeal
Cite this Entry
“Pharyngeal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pharyngeal. Accessed 10 Nov. 2024.
Kids Definition
pharyngeal
adjective
pha·ryn·geal
ˌfar-ən-ˈjē-əl
fə-ˈrin-j(ē-)əl
: relating to, located in, or produced in the region of the pharynx
Medical Definition
pharyngeal
adjective
pha·ryn·geal
ˌfar-ən-ˈjē-əl
fə-ˈrin-j(ē-)əl
1
: relating to or located in the region of the pharynx
2
a
: innervating the pharynx especially by contributing to the formation of the pharyngeal plexus
the pharyngeal branch of the vagus nerve
b
: supplying or draining the pharynx
the pharyngeal branch of the maxillary artery
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share