Final answer:
The naris is the Latin term for nostril, which is an opening to the nasal cavity. The nasal cavity features structures like the nasal conchae and nasal septum, aiding in air passage and filtration. The term is linked not only to anatomy but also seen in the etymology of words such as 'rhinoceros', meaning 'nose horn'.
Step-by-step explanation:
The term naris originates from Latin, meaning nostril. It refers to the opening of the nostrils and serves as a passage for air into the nasal cavity. Each human nose has two narices (plural form), one on each side. They are surrounded by several structures including the alae, which is the cartilaginous part forming the lateral side of the narices. Within the nasal cavity, there are nasal conchae which are curved bony plates that project from the walls of the nasal cavity. They increase the surface area, improving the warming, humidifying, and filtering of the air breathed in through the nose. Additionally, the nasal cavity contains the nasal septum, which divides the cavity into left and right parts, and the nasal bone, which provides structure to the nose.
Linked to the nasal cavity is the nasopharynx, an airway located in the upper part of the pharynx behind the nose, which also features aspects like meatuses - recesses attached to the conchae aiding in air passage. Interestingly, in the development phase, the olfactory pit will form the nasal cavity, indicating the nose's role in the sense of smell. The word rhinoceros demonstrates a linguistic example where 'rhino' (meaning nose in Greek) combines with 'ceros' (meaning horn) to describe an animal with a 'nose horn'.