dorso-

American  

1. variant of dorsi-.

   dorsoventral.

---

dorso- British  

combining form

1. indicating dorsum or dorsal

   dorsoventral

---

Usage

What does dorso- mean? The combining form dorso- 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 dorso- is very occasionally used in scientific terms, especially in anatomy. The form dorso- 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 dorso-?The forms dors- and dorso- are less-common variants of dorsi-. Want to know more? Read our Words That Use articles for dors- and dorsi-.

Example Sentences

Mesopleura: in Diptera, the space before the root of the wing between the dorso- and sternopleural sutures: in Hymenoptera, the piece below the insertion of the wings.

From Explanation of Terms Used in Entomology by Smith, John. B.