retrocaecal
|re-tro-cae-cal|
🇺🇸
/ˌrɛtroʊˈsiːkəl/
🇬🇧
/ˌrɛtrəʊˈsiːkəl/
behind the cecum
Etymology
'retrocaecal' originates from Latin, specifically the prefix 'retro-' meaning 'back' and 'caecal' from Latin 'caecum' meaning 'blind (a blind pouch).'
'retrocaecal' was formed in Neo-Latin/Medieval Latin by combining 'retro' + 'caecum' (from Latin 'caecus' meaning 'blind'), appearing as 'retrocaecalis' in Medieval Latin and eventually entering modern English as 'retrocaecal'.
Initially it referred simply to being 'behind the caecum'; over time this locational sense has been retained and specialized in medical usage to describe structures (especially the appendix) positioned posterior to the cecum.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Adjective 1
situated behind the caecum (cecum); located posterior to the cecum — frequently used to describe the position of the appendix.
The CT scan showed a retrocaecal appendix, which can make diagnosis of appendicitis more difficult.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/10/01 21:27