'vasotropic' originates from modern scientific formation combining the prefix 'vaso-' and the suffix '-tropic'. 'vaso-' ultimately comes from Latin 'vas' meaning 'vessel', and '-tropic' comes via New Latin/Gk. combining forms from Greek 'tropikos' meaning 'having an affinity for' or 'turning toward'.

'vasotropic' was formed in modern medical English by joining 'vaso-' (from Latin 'vas') with '-tropic' (from Greek 'tropos'/'tropikos'), producing a term used in 20th-century physiological and pharmacological contexts.

Initially the components meant 'vessel' and 'turning/affinity', and together they have come to mean 'acting on or having affinity for blood vessels' in current medical usage.