Category:Ventral

Ven"tral, a. Etym: [l. ventralis, fr. venter the belly; perhaps akin To g. wanst: cf. F. ventral.]

1. (anat.)

Defn: of, pertaining to, or situated near, the belly, or ventral Side, of an animal or of one of its parts; hemal; abdominal; as, the Ventral fin of a fish; the ventral root of a spinal nerve; -- opposed To ant: dorsal.

2. (bot.) (a) of or pertaining to that surface of a carpel, petal, etc., which Faces toward the center of a flower. (b) of or pertaining to the lower side or surface of a creeping moss Or other low flowerless plant. Opposed to ant: dorsal. Ventral fins (zoöl.), the posterior pair of fins of a fish. They are often Situated beneath the belly, but sometimes beneath the throat. -- ventral segment. (acoustics) see loop, n., 5.