Vorderfläche

Vorderfläche is a German term that denotes the front or anterior surface of a body part, organ, or object. It refers to the surface that faces forward or toward the observer in a given orientation and is used to describe a specific surface among several.

In anatomy, the Vorderfläche describes the anterior aspect of a structure or region. Examples include the Vorderfläche des Brustkorbs (anterior chest wall) or die Vorderfläche des Herzens (the front-facing surface of the heart). It is typically contrasted with the Hinterfläche (posterior surface) or Rückseite (back side). In medical imaging and surgery, specifying the Vorderfläche helps locate structures relative to the front of the body.

Beyond anatomy, the term appears in geometry, CAD, and architecture to indicate the front-facing face of a three-dimensional object from a defined viewpoint. It is important for labeling, rendering, and orientation in technical drawings and models.

The word derives from Vorder- (front) and Fläche (surface). In many contexts it is used interchangeably with Vorderseite, though Vorderfläche emphasizes the surface itself rather than simply the external side, and technical usage may prefer one term over the other depending on convention.