retroorbital
|re-tro-or-bi-tal|
🇺🇸
/ˌrɛtroʊˈɔrbɪtəl/
🇬🇧
/ˌretrəʊˈɔːbɪt(ə)l/
behind the eye socket
Etymology
'retroorbital' originates from Latin elements: the prefix 'retro-' (from Latin 'retro') meaning 'backward' or 'behind', combined with 'orbital' from Latin 'orbita' meaning 'track, course' (later used for the eye socket).
'retro-' entered English as a combining form from Latin 'retro' meaning 'back' or 'behind'; 'orbital' derives from Medieval/Modern Latin 'orbitalis' (from Latin 'orbita'). The compound 'retroorbital' formed in modern English medical usage to describe location behind the orbit.
Initially composed of elements meaning 'behind' and 'of the orbit,' the term has retained this literal anatomical sense and is used in medical contexts to mean 'located behind the eye socket.'
Meanings by Part of Speech
Adjective 1
situated or occurring behind the orbit (the bony cavity containing the eyeball); posterior to the eye socket.
The patient reported retroorbital pain and pressure after the injury.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/10/04 12:53