What does dorso- mean in medical terms?

dorso-

Meaning: back

Type: Prefix

A prefix goes at the very start of a word, before the root. On this page: what dorso- means, and real medical words that use it, each broken down into its parts.

Example words using dorso-

dorsolateral
dorso- (back) + lateral (side) = relating to the back and the side
dorsoventral
dorso- (back) + ventral (front, belly side) = extending from the back to the front

Shortened forms

Charts and notes shorten long terms — see the Medical Abbreviations guide for the short forms you will meet in real records.

Please note: This section teaches the language of medicine — what word parts mean and how terms are built. It is an educational reference, not medical advice. For the meaning of a word in your own medical record, ask the clinician who wrote it.