Ventral \Ven"tral\, a. [L. ventralis, fr. venter the belly;
perhaps akin to G. wanst: cf. F. ventral.]
1. (Anat.) 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 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 dorsal.
Ventral fins (Zo["o]l.), 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.
Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
|