dorsi-

1. a combining form representing dorsum or dorsal in compound words:

   dorsispinal.

Example Sentences

The laceration at the latissimus dorsi muscle was then approximated with No.

From Project Gutenberg

Attention was then turned on the laceration of the latissimus dorsi muscle where the missile had passed through it.

From Project Gutenberg

Was not the doctrine of a chosen people, which is the spina dorsi of the bible, the negation of human brotherhood?

From Project Gutenberg

What may be meant by spina piscis it is perhaps difficult to conjecture; but I can by no means make spina dorsi of it, as Dion.

From Project Gutenberg

From its wide expanse on the back it is known as the latissimus dorsi (broadest of the back).

From Project Gutenberg

Words That Use dorsi-

What does dorsi- mean?

The combining form dorsi– is used like a prefix meaning “dorsum” or “dorsal.” Dorsum is an anatomical term for the back of the human body. Dorsal is the adjective form of dorsum, meaning “of, relating to, or situated at the back.” The form dorsi– is very occasionally used in scientific terms, especially in anatomy.

The form dorsi– comes from Latin dorsum, meaning “back.” The closest Greek equivalent of dorsum is rhákhis, “spine,” as found in the combining form rachio– and the noun rachis, which refers to the axis of a flower or the spine of a feather. To learn more, check out our entries for rachio– and rachis.

What are variants of dorsi-?

In some instances, dorsi– becomes dorso–, as in dorsoventral, or dors–, as in dorsalgia. Want to know more? Read our Words That Use articles for dors– and dorso-.

Examples of dorsi-

A scientific term that uses the form dorsi– is dorsiferous, a botanical term meaning “borne on the back,” like spore clusters on most ferns.

The dorsi– portion of the word here means “dorsum” or “back.” The form –ferous means “bearing.” Dorsiferous literally translates to “back-bearing.”

What are some words that use the combining form dorsi-?

• dorsiflexion
• dorsiflexor
• dorsigrade (using the equivalent form of dorsi- in Latin)
• dorsispinal
• dorsiventral

What are some other forms that dorsi– may be commonly confused with?

• -drome

Break it down!

The word spinal means “of, relating to, or belonging to a spine.” With this in mind, what does the anatomical term dorsispinal mean?