retropectoral
|re-tro-pec-tor-al|
🇺🇸
/ˌrɛtroʊˈpɛktərəl/
🇬🇧
/ˌrɛtrəʊˈpɛkt(ə)rəl/
behind the pectoral muscle(s)
Etymology
'retropectoral' originates from Latin, specifically the prefix 'retro-' meaning 'back' and the word 'pectoralis' meaning 'of the chest'.
'retropectoral' is a modern medical formation (from New Latin/medical English) combining the Latin prefix 'retro-' with 'pectoral' (from Latin 'pectoralis'), producing the adjective used in anatomy and surgery.
Initially components meant 'back' (retro-) and 'of the chest' (pectoralis); together they came to be used specifically for 'located behind the pectoral muscle(s)' in medical contexts.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Adjective 1
situated or occurring behind the pectoral muscle(s), especially the pectoralis major (used in medical/anatomical contexts).
The surgeon created a retropectoral pocket for the breast implant.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/10/04 19:18