Ventral

Ventral (from Lat. ventralis - abdominal), located (or facing) the front, abdominal surface of the body [in animals, the lower surface], in opposition to the term 'dorsal'. These terms, proposed by Henle, entered the Basel anatomical nomenclature (BNA) and general use. In any body position, they precisely define the position and relationships, whereas the term 'anterior' changes its meaning in such cases. Thus, we call the V. musculature not only the abdominal musculature in the narrow sense, but generally that located on the corresponding part of the body (trunk, neck, head and limbs). The V. mesentery of the stomach (mesogastricum ventrale) in embryology is called the mesentery extending from the stomach to the anterior abdominal wall. 'Ventrally' completely defines the position of one organ or part of it relative to another.