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Glite Dictionary
posterior nasal aperture

posterior nasal aperture

9.0
An opening at the back of the nose that leads into the upper throat
  • noun
  • /ˌpoʊstɪˈɪr ˈneɪzl ˈæpətʃər/
  • Specialized
translation icon : apertura nasal posterior
  • An enlarged adenoid can block the posterior nasal aperture, causing breathing difficulties.

Examples

  • The surgeon examined the posterior nasal aperture for signs of obstruction.

  • Can you identify the posterior nasal apertures in this diagram?

  • During development, the posterior nasal apertures form as part of the palate.

  • The posterior nasal aperture is crucial for proper breathing.

  • The surgeon examined the posterior nasal aperture for signs of obstruction.

  • An enlarged adenoid can block the posterior nasal aperture, causing breathing difficulties.

  • Can you identify the posterior nasal apertures in this diagram?

Synonyms

choana
vsposterior nasal aperture
  • Specialized
9.9

An opening at the back of the nose that leads to the throat

has identical meaning but uses a descriptive multiword phrase
posterior naris
vsposterior nasal aperture
  • Specialized
9.9

One of the two openings at the back of the nose that leads to the throat

has identical meaning but prefers the longer descriptive wording
internal nostril
vsposterior nasal aperture
  • Specialized
8.0

One of the two openings at the back of the nose that lead to the throat

has identical meaning but uses the formal anatomical phrasing

Surface Forms

posterior nasal aperture singular
posterior nasal apertures plural

Morphology

posterior + nasal + aperture

The phrase is transparently compositional: 'posterior' (rear) + 'nasal' (relating to the nose) + 'aperture' (opening) yields the clear sense 'rear opening of the nasal cavity.' This anatomical description follows straightforward word-combination patterns found across languages, so a B1 learner who knows the constituent words can reliably infer the meaning.

Etymology

Posterior nasal aperture comes from older words: posterior meaning 'back', nasal meaning 'nose', and aperture meaning 'opening'. It paints the image of one of the two small openings at the back of the nose that lead into the throat, so the name simply means a 'back opening of the nose'.