Ventral
Ventral
Ventral (/ˈvɛntrəl/), from the Latin venter meaning 'belly', is a term used in anatomy to refer to the front, or belly side, of an organism. It is the opposite of dorsal, which refers to the back side of an organism.
Etymology
The term 'ventral' is derived from the Latin word venter, which translates to 'belly' or 'stomach'. It was first used in English in the early 18th century, and has been used in anatomical terminology ever since.
Usage
In anatomical terminology, 'ventral' is used to describe structures that are more towards the front of the body, or closer to the belly. For example, the ventral surface of the human body includes the chest, abdomen, and the shins.
In contrast, the term dorsal is used to describe structures that are more towards the back of the body, or closer to the spine. For example, the dorsal surface of the human body includes the back, buttocks, and the calves.
Related Terms
- Anterior: In human anatomy, 'anterior' is often used interchangeably with 'ventral', although this is not always the case in other animals.
- Posterior: The opposite of anterior, referring to the back side of an organism. In human anatomy, 'posterior' is often used interchangeably with 'dorsal'.
- Ventral root: A branch of a spinal nerve that contains outgoing, or efferent, fibers carrying signals away from the central nervous system.
- Ventral horn: The front column of grey matter in the spinal cord. It contains cell bodies of motor neurons that send axons via the ventral root to muscles.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Ventral
- Wikipedia's article - Ventral
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