posteroinferior

9.9

Near the back and lower part of a body or organ

adjective
/ˌpoʊstərˌoʊɪnˈfɪrɪər/

Specialized

: posteroinferior

Examination revealed the presence of a heavy, yellow, mucoid discharge in the right ear that emanated from a small posteroinferior perforation in the tympanic membrane.

Examples

Similarly, failure to lower the facial ridge to the level of the facial nerve in the posteroinferior annular region might leave disease or trapped cells at the level of the hypotympanum, which can lead to granulation tissue and subsequent failure of the drum graft inferiorly.

Academic text (2002)
The surgeon made an incision in the posteroinferior part of the patient's abdomen.
The posteroinferior section of the heart is crucial for efficient blood circulation.
In anatomy class, we learned that the kidneys are located in a posteroinferior position relative to the diaphragm.

Surface Forms

posteroinferior positive

Morphology

posteroinferior = inferior (transparent) = postero + inferior

The combining form 'postero-' (posterior) is directly attached to 'inferior', giving the straightforward anatomical sense 'toward the back and lower part'.

Etymology

Posteroinferior comes from two Latin parts: postero- meaning 'back' (as in posterior) and inferior meaning 'lower'. So, the word describes something at the 'back' and the 'lower' part of a body or organ.