What is the Dorsal Position in Anatomy?

• Meaning: The word 'Dorsal' refers to the Back or the upper side of an animal or human body.
• Origin: It comes from the Latin word 'Dorsum', which literally means 'back'.

• Sharks and Dolphins: The famous fin sticking out of the water on a shark's back is scientifically called the Dorsal Fin.
• Dogs and Horses: When a dog is standing on all four legs, the part facing the sky (its spine and back) is the dorsal surface.
• Turtles: The hard top shell that protects a turtle's back is its dorsal side.

The exact opposite of Dorsal is Ventral.

• Ventral refers to the Front or the belly side of the animal.
• For a dog standing on four legs, the soft belly facing the ground is the ventral side.

Because humans walk upright on two legs, the terminology feels a bit different, but the rule remains the same:

• The human spine, shoulder blades, and the back of your head are on the Dorsal side.
• Your chest, belly button, and face are on the Ventral side (also commonly called the Anterior side in human anatomy).