dorsi-

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

   dorsispinal.

Example Sentences

He was diagnosed with inflammation in the latissimus dorsi near the shoulder during spring training and has yet to pitch for the Mariners.

From Seattle Times

The latissimus dorsi was starting to tighten with discomfort.

From Seattle Times

Wallen also revealed that he injured his latissimus dorsi in Australia and has been “trying to work through that quietly.”

From Los Angeles Times

He was sidelined between July 31 and Sept. 21 by a strained right latissimus dorsi muscle.

From Seattle Times

The platelet-rich plasma injection was used to treat a strained latissimus dorsi on his right side.

From Seattle Times

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?