opistho-
(əʊpɪsθəʊ)
before a vowel opisth-, combining form of Gr. ὄπισθεν behind, used in various scientific terms; for the more important of which see their alphabetical places.
oˈpisthodont (-ədɒnt) a. Zool. [Gr. ὀδούς, ὀδόντ- tooth], having back teeth only. opisthogastric (-ˈgæstrɪk) a. Anat. [ad. F. opisthogastrique (Chaussier): see gastric], situated behind the stomach. opisthoglossal (-ˈglɒsəl), -glossate (-ˈglɒsət) adjs. Zool. [f. mod.L. Opisthoglossa neut. pl., f. Gr. γλῶσσα tongue], belonging to Günther's division Opisthoglossa of batrachians, having the tongue free behind and attached in front. opisthognathous (-ˈɒgnəθəs) a. [Gr. γνάθος jaw], (a) Anthropol. having retreating jaws or teeth; (b) Ichthyol. having the maxillary bones prolonged backwards, as fishes of the genus Opisthognathus. opisthomous (-ˈəʊməs) a. Ichthyol. [f. mod.L. Opisthōmī (pl.), f. Gr. ὦµος shoulder], belonging to the division Opisthomi of teleostean fishes, having the scapular arch separate from the skull. opisthopulmonate (-ˈpʌlmənət) a. Zool. [L. pulmo, pulmōn- lung], applied to those pulmonate or air-breathing gastropod molluscs which have the pulmonary sac behind the heart (cf. opisthobranchiate).
| 1857 Mayne Expos. Lex., *Opisto-Gastric, applied by Chaussier to the cœliac artery, from its situation. 1892 Syd. Soc. Lex., Opisthogastric artery. |
| 1864 Hunt Vogt's Lect. Man ii. 53 Welcker distinguishes the extremely orthognathous as *opisthognathous (or with retreating teeth), a distinction which does not seem to me quite justifiable. |
| 1877 Huxley Anat. Inv. Anim. viii. 514 When the pulmonary sac is posterior, and the pallial region small, the ventricle of the heart is anterior,..and the animal may be said to be *opisthopulmonate. |