'nasoantral' originates from Latin, specifically the prefix 'naso-' from Latin 'nasus' where 'nasus' meant 'nose', combined with 'antral' from Latin 'antrum' where 'antrum' meant 'cave' or 'cavity'.

'nasoantral' formed in modern medical English by combining the Neo-Latin/medical-prefix 'naso-' (from Latin 'nasus') with the adjective-forming element from Latin 'antrum' ('antral') used in anatomical terminology; this created the compound adjective now used in English medical contexts.

Initially the components literally referred to 'nose' and 'cavity' ('nose-cavity'); over time the compound came to specifically denote 'relating to the nasal antrum (often the maxillary sinus)' in clinical usage.