Ven"tral (?), a. [L. ventralis, fr. venter the belly; perhaps akin to G.
wanst: cf. F. ventral.]
1. (Anat.)
Of, pertaining to, or situated near, the belly, or
ventral side, of an animal
or of one of its parts; hemal; abdominal; as, the ventral fin of a fish; the ventral root of a spinal nerve; -- opposed to dorsal.
2. (Bot.) (a) Of or pertaining to that surface of a carpel, petal, etc., which faces toward the center of a flower. (b)
Of or pertaining to the lower
side or surface of a
creeping moss or other low
flowerless plant.
Opposed to dorsal.
Ventral fins (Zoöl.), the posterior pair of fins of a fish. They are often situated beneath the belly, but sometimes beneath the throat. -- Ventral segment. (Acoustics) See Loop, n.,
5.
Hear it pronounced