What does ventral mean Meaning and Definition

Pronunciation

/ˈvɛntrəl/ 🔊

Part of Speech

Noun or Adjective

Definition

The front or underside of an animal, or the surface of an organ or part that is facing away from the spine in humans.

Examples

• The ventral side of the fish was covered in gills.
• The nurse checked the patient’s ventral incision for signs of infection.

Etymology

Ventral comes from the Latin word “venter”, meaning “belly” or “stomach”.

Usage Notes

Ventral is often used in scientific and medical contexts to describe anatomical structures or processes. It can also be used figuratively to describe something that is facing away from a central or principal aspect.

Cultural References

Ventral has been used in popular culture to describe the underside of alien creatures in science fiction films and television shows.

Idiomatic Expressions or Phrases

belly up (to turn one’s belly or ventral surface towards the ground)

Related Words or Phrases

• Dorsal (the back or top surface of an animal)
• Lateral (the side surface of an animal)

Collocations

• Ventral surface
• Ventral incision
• Ventral nerve

Frequency of Use

Ventral is a relatively rare word in modern language, but it is often used in technical and scientific contexts.

Common Misspellings

• ventral -> ventrell
• ventral -> verntral