The growth plate, or physis, is the translucent, cartilaginous disc Or nature,' which was a principal meaning of the Greek word when usedĪs a prefix (but also denoting 'community, participation in common 'changing places with' probably led to senses 'change of place, order, Miþ, Old English mið 'with, together with, among'). Is from PIE *me- 'in the middle' (source also of German mit, Gothic 'higher, beyond ' from Greek meta (prep.) 'in the midst of in common with by means of īetween in pursuit or quest of after, next after, behind,' inĬompounds most often meaning 'change' of place, condition, etc. Word-forming element of Greek origin meaning 1.

Principles of Anatomy & Physiology, 14th edition.

A webpage on reports that our earliest usage of the term 'metaphysis' came from an obstetrician named William Dorland (1864–1956) in the early 20th century.

The latter explanation is somewhat underwhelming, but the etymological usage fits more with my prior experience with meta-.Ĭan someone find a reputable source definitively indicating a clear anatomical/physiological explanation for why meta- was used in the case of 'metaphysis'? Metaphysis: Greek meta = after, and physis = growth hence, the end of the shaft of a bone alongside the epiphysial or growth cartilage

Toby Arnold's Glossary of Anatomy provides the following etymology of the word metaphysis: However, I have never seen meta- applied in this manner more generally, the suffix meta- usually seems to refer to 'after.' This sounds reasonable given the explanation. The metaphyses (me-TAF-i-sez meta = between singular is metaphysis) are the regions between the diaphysis and the epiphysis. The anatomy textbook 1 I use for my students states that the prefix meta- means 'between:'

Meta meaning anatomy