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Anatomy & Physiology vocabulary · Body Regions and Directional Terms

Dorsal

Meaning in anatomy & physiology, with examples

/ˈdɔːrsəl/adjectiveCommon term

In anatomy & physiology, dorsal means: On or toward the back of the body. In the hand and foot it also means the top surface: the back of the hand and the upper surface of the foot are dorsal.

In Turkish: dorsal, sırt tarafı, arka

How it is used

In humans it usually means the same as posterior, and its opposite is ventral (meaning anterior). It is common in names such as dorsal root, dorsal horn and the dorsalis pedis pulse, which is felt on the top of the foot.

Example sentences

  1. Sensory fibers enter the spinal cord through the dorsal roots.

  2. The veins on the dorsal surface of the hand are often used for cannulas.

Common collocations

  • dorsal surface
  • dorsal root
  • dorsal horn
  • dorsalis pedis
  • dorsiflexion
  • posteriorAt or toward the back of the body. For example, the vertebral column is posterior to the heart.
  • anteriorAt or toward the front of the body. For example, the sternum (breastbone) is anterior to the heart.
  • spinal cordThe long bundle of nerve tissue that runs down from the brain inside the vertebral column. It carries signals between the brain and the body and controls simple reflexes.
  • anatomical positionThe standard reference posture used to describe the body: standing upright, facing forward, arms at the sides with the palms facing forward, and feet together.

More terms: Body Regions and Directional Terms

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This page explains English vocabulary for learners. It is not medical advice.