Dextrális

Dextrális is an adjective derived from the Latin dexter meaning right. In several languages, including Hungarian, it is used to denote right-hand orientation, right-sided anatomy, or dextral (right-handed) characteristics. It is often contrasted with sinistrális, which refers to the left side or left-handed orientation.

In biology and anatomy, dextral is used to describe structures or patterns that occur on the right side of the body or that orient to the right. For example, in zoology and botany, dextral (dextrális) may describe coils or spirals that turn to the right, such as dextral snail shells. In clinical contexts, dextral findings refer to features located on the right side of the body, though the term is used with varying frequency across languages and disciplines.

In chemistry and crystallography, dextral can describe substances that rotate plane-polarized light to the right, a property known as dextrorotation. This usage is common in discussions of chiral molecules, where the right-rotating enantiomer is sometimes labeled as dextrorotatory and abbreviated as d- or (+). However, the exact terminology can vary by language and field, and some languages prefer other terms for the same concept.

Overall, dextrális functions as a cross-disciplinary term signaling right-sidedness or right-handedness, with the precise definition shaped by the scientific context. Related concepts include dextral (right-handed) and sinistral (left-handed) orientations, and the broader prefix dextro- used to indicate rightward properties.