'dorso-superior' originates from Latin, specifically the words 'dorsum' and 'superus', where 'dorsum' meant 'back' and 'superus' meant 'upper' or 'above'.

'dorsum' gave rise to forms such as 'dorsal' in Late Latin/Medieval Latin, and 'superus' produced 'superior'; these elements were combined in anatomical Latin/terminology and later adopted into modern English as the compound 'dorso-superior'.

Initially the Latin elements meant 'back' and 'upper' separately; over time the combined form came to be used in anatomical contexts to specify a position that is both toward the back and above, which is the current usage.