'antero-inferior' originates from Latin roots: 'anterior' (from Latin 'anterior', comparative of 'ante' meaning 'before') combined with 'inferior' (from Latin 'inferior', comparative of 'inferus' meaning 'below' or 'low').

'antero-' is a combining form derived from Latin 'anterior' via Medieval/Scientific Latin and entered English anatomical usage; 'inferior' comes from Latin 'inferior' and passed into English through Old/Middle French and Late Latin. The compound 'antero-inferior' arose in medical/anatomical English as a direct combination of these Latin-derived elements.

Individually, 'anterior' originally meant 'before' (in time or position) and 'inferior' meant 'lower'; together, the compound came to be used specifically in anatomy to mean 'in front and below' relative to another structure.