'peri-ovarian' originates from Greek and Latin, specifically the prefix 'peri-' (Greek) meaning 'around' and the Latin word 'ovarium' meaning 'egg-chamber' or 'ovary'.

'peri-' (Greek) + Latin 'ovarium' combined in post-classical/medical Latin formations; the compound entered English usage in medical contexts as 'periovarian' (often hyphenated as 'peri-ovarian') to denote anatomy around the ovary.

Initially it literally combined 'around' + 'ovary' and over time has remained a specialized medical adjective meaning 'around the ovary' or 'in the tissues adjacent to the ovary.'