fundus
UK[ˈfʌndəs]US[ˈfʌndəs]
n
The base or deepest part of a hollow organ, or the part farthest from its opening.
Morpheme Breakdown
fund
us
fund
base
us
noun suffix
Etymology
The word 'fundus' is a direct borrowing from Latin, where it originally meant 'bottom' or 'foundation', and by extension, 'a piece of land, a farm'. This literal sense of 'base' was adopted into anatomical terminology in New Latin to describe the part of a hollow organ opposite its opening, such as the fundus of the stomach or the uterus. The semantic logic is a clear metaphorical extension from a general 'bottom' to a specific anatomical 'base'. The term retains its classical Latin form and spelling in modern scientific English.
Analysis
Structure: fund (base) + us (noun suffix)
'fund' is from Latin fundus meaning 'bottom, base, piece of land'. '-us' is a Latin noun suffix indicating a masculine singular form.
Examples
The ophthalmologist examined the fundus of the patient's eye using a bright light.
During the endoscopy, the doctor noted inflammation in the gastric fundus.
A fundal height measurement is a standard part of prenatal care.