'antecardium' originates from New Latin, formed by Latin 'ante-' (meaning 'before') + Greek 'kardia' (which gave the element 'cardium', meaning 'heart').

'antecardium' was formed in New Latin by combining the prefix 'ante-' with the Greek-derived element 'cardium' and entered English usage via medical/Latin terminology to denote the region before the heart.

Initially it meant 'before the heart' in a literal, spatial sense; over time it has been used specifically in medical anatomy to refer to the chest area overlying the heart (the precordium).