'retrocolic' originates from a combination of Latin prefix 'retro-' meaning 'backward' and a formation related to Greek 'kolon' (via Latin) referring to the 'colon' or large intestine.

'retrocolic' is formed in Neo-Latin/medical Latin from 'retro-' + elements referring to the colon (compare Medieval/New Latin formations such as 'retrocolicus'), and it entered modern English medical usage with the same structure and meaning.

Initially it denoted the literal positional sense 'behind the colon,' and over time it has retained that anatomical locational meaning in modern medical usage.