Where does “retroperitoneal” come from?

Retroperitoneal is a New Latin anatomical formation combining retro- with peritoneal, itself from Medieval Latin peritonēum, from Greek peritoniaios meaning "stretched around," derived from peritonē, the membrane enveloping abdominal organs.

retroperitoneal (English): Located behind the peritoneum

Definitions

  1. Located behind the peritoneum

Ancestry of “retroperitoneal”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishperitonealOf, relating to, or affecting the peritoneum
2EnglishperitoneumIn mammals, the serous membrane lining the cavity...
3Latinperitonaeumperitoneum
4Ancient Greekπεριτόναιονmembrane which contains the lower viscera;...
5Ancient Greekπεριτόναιοςstretched or strained over, especially of the...
6Ancient Greekπερίτονοςcovered with something stretched over
7Ancient Greekπερῐ-around; very; round about
8New Latinheliumhelium
9Ancient GreekἭλιοςsun
10Ancient GreekτύποςA blow, pressing; The results of a blow: mark,...
11Ancient Greekτύπτωto beat, strike, smite; to beat, strike oneself
12Proto-Indo-European(s)tewp-to push, to stick
13Proto-Indo-European(s)tew-to push, to hit

Words derived from “retroperitoneal

Every word from Proto-Indo-European (s)tew-Every word from Proto-Indo-European (s)tewp-Every word from Ancient Greek τύπτω