Dorsální

Dorsální, often rendered in English as dorsal, is an adjective used in anatomy, zoology, and related fields to denote a position or structure associated with the back or upper side of an organism or object. The term derives from the Latin dorsum, meaning back. In languages such as Czech, the form dorsální is used as a technical term with the same meaning, reflecting shared Latin roots.

In human anatomy, dorsal typically corresponds to the posterior or back surface, while ventral denotes the front or belly side. This orientation helps describe surfaces, structures, and planes, such as the dorsal aspect of the hand (the back of the hand) or the dorsal surface of the foot (the top). However, directional usage can vary by context, especially when referring to the head or brain, where dorsal generally means the upper or back side relative to the body’s axis.

Nervous system anatomy provides several common uses of dorsality. The dorsal root carries sensory information into the spinal cord, and the dorsal horn is a posterior region of the spinal cord gray matter. The dorsal columns (fasciculi gracilis and cuneatus) are a major sensory pathway. In the brain, dorsal refers to the superior or posterior aspect depending on the orientation.

In broader biology and embryology, dorsal is part of the dorsal–ventral axis that organizes body plans and organ development. In zoology, the dorsum is the back surface of an animal, and structures such as dorsal fins or plates are situated along that side.

Dorsální is the cognate term in Czech, functioning analogously to dorsal in English and used across anatomical and scientific literature.