DORSAL

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does dorsal mean? 

• DORSAL (adjective)
  The adjective DORSAL has 2 senses:

1. belonging to or on or near the back or upper surface of an animal or organ or part

2. facing away from the axis of an organ or organism

  Familiarity information: DORSAL used as an adjective is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• DORSAL (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Belonging to or on or near the back or upper surface of an animal or organ or part

Context example:

the dorsal fin is the vertical fin on the back of a fish and certain marine mammals

Antonym:

ventral (toward or on or near the belly (front of a primate or lower surface of a lower animal))

Derivation:

dorsum (the back of the body of a vertebrate or any analogous surface (as the upper or outer surface of an organ or appendage or part))

dorsum (the posterior part of a human (or animal) body from the neck to the end of the spine)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Facing away from the axis of an organ or organism

Synonyms:

abaxial; dorsal

Context example:

the abaxial surface of a leaf is the underside or side facing away from the stem

Domain category:

biological science; biology (the science that studies living organisms)

 Context examples 

In large and small animals, it is placed over the dorsal spinous process of the 7th thoracic vertebra.

(Lead Site V3, NCI Thesaurus)

The lymphoid follicles on the dorsal surface in the posterior region of the tongue.

(Lingual Tonsil, NCI Thesaurus)

A unipolar chest lead at which the electrode is placed over the dorsal spinous process of 7th thoracic vertebra.

(Lead Site V10, NCI Thesaurus)

A triangular area containing the hypoglossal nucleus on either side of the dorsal median sulcus and superior to the vagal triangle.

(Hypoglossal Triangle, NCI Thesaurus)

Great slate-colored backs and high serrated dorsal fins shot up with a fringe of silver, and then rolled down into the depths again.

(The Lost World, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

A mass of lymphoid tissue located at the base of the dorsal surface of the tongue.

(Lingual Tonsil, NCI Thesaurus/CDISC)

Any of the four dorsal or four plantar arteries that arise from the dorsalis pedis artery that extend over the metatarsal bones.

(Metatarsal Artery, NCI Thesaurus)

The dorsal surface of the early vertebrate embryo that gives rise to the nervous system.

(Neuroectoderm, NCI Thesaurus)

An embryonic cell on the dorsal surface of the early vertebrate embryo that gives rise to the cells of the nervous system

(Neuroectodermal Cell, NCI Thesaurus)

One of the two bundles of nerve fibers (dorsal and ventral roots) emerging from the spinal cord that join to form each spinal nerve.

(Nerve Root, NCI Thesaurus)