rearflank

Rearflank, sometimes written as rear flank, is a term used primarily in veterinary anatomy and zoology to describe the posterior portion of the flank region on an animal’s body. The flank is the lateral area between the thorax and the hindquarters, and the rear flank refers to the part closest to the hind limbs and pelvis. The exact boundaries of the rear flank can vary by species and context, but it generally lies toward the caudal (rear) end of the flank.

In mammals, the rear flank overlaps muscles of the abdominal and back regions, including portions of the external and internal oblique muscles and nearby back muscles. The tissue composition—skin, fat, and muscle—can vary with species, age, sex, and body condition, giving the rear flank different appearances and densities across animals such as horses, cattle, and small mammals. In birds, the term is used less consistently, with the flank areas located near the lower thorax and the base of the tail, where plumage descriptions may reference rearward aspects.

Clinical and practical relevance exists in veterinary medicine and animal husbandry. The flank region is a familiar site for certain surgical approaches and injections in some species, and its condition (such as fat deposition or musculature) can be relevant to health assessments, conformation, and market value in livestock. The term is not a standard anatomical label in human medicine, where “flank” is used more informally to describe the side of the body between the ribs and pelvis, and “rear flank” is rarely employed.

See also: flank, flank region, loin.