'paratracheal' originates from Greek, specifically the elements 'para' and 'trachea', where 'para' meant 'beside' and 'trachea' (from Greek 'tracheia') meant 'rough' (used for the windpipe).

'paratracheal' was formed in modern medical English by combining the prefix 'para-' with the noun 'trachea' (borrowed via Latin from Greek 'tracheia') and the adjectival suffix '-al', producing the adjective 'paratracheal'.

Initially it meant 'beside the trachea', and this anatomical sense has been retained in modern usage.