dorsalanal

Dorsalanal is an anatomical term formed from the words dorsal, meaning related to the back, and anal, relating to the anus. It is not a standard headword in most modern anatomy dictionaries, and when it appears it is typically in hyphenated form as dorsal-anal rather than as a closed compound.

In current usage, dorsalanal or dorsal-anal is often encountered in descriptive or taxonomic texts to indicate features that involve both the dorsal region and the anal area, or to describe the orientation of structures located near the junction of these regions. Because the term is uncommon, its exact meaning can vary by author, and readers should look for contextual clues within the surrounding description.

Common practice in anatomical writing favors clearer, more precise language, and many authors avoid creating new closed compounds like dorsalanal. Hyphenated forms such as dorsal-anal are preferred when a combined orientation is needed. When used, the term is typically applied to describe surfaces, nerves, vessels, muscles, or other features that lie near the posterior trunk and relate to both the dorsal and anal regions.

See also: dorsal, anal, anatomical orientation, anatomical region, comparative anatomy.