ventral

1 of 2

adjective

ven·​tral ˈven-trəl 

1

a

: of or relating to the belly : abdominal

b

: being or located near or on the anterior or lower surface of an animal opposite the back

2

: being or located on the lower surface of a dorsiventral plant structure

ventrally

ˈven-trə-lē 

adverb

ventral

2 of 2

noun

: a ventral part (such as a scale or fin)

Examples of ventral in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

In at least two parts of the brain, a subset of neuroscientists believe that neurons may continue to form throughout life–the hippocampus and the ventral striatum. —Lauren Leffer, Popular Science, 3 July 2025

To use an early version of Stavisky’s brain-to-text system, the patient had 256 microelectrodes implanted into his ventral precentral gyrus, an area of the brain responsible for controlling vocal tract muscles. —ArsTechnica, 29 June 2025

Noun

Ventral, because the V in ventral is an arrow pointing down. —Neuroskeptic, Discover Magazine, 17 Oct. 2012

The dorsal is the back and the ventral is in the front. —Womensmedia, Forbes, 15 Apr. 2021

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

borrowed from Late Latin ventrālis, from Latin ventr-, venter "belly, abdomen" + -ālis -al entry 1 — more at venter

First Known Use

Adjective

1739, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun

1834, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing ventral

• ventral root

Rhymes for ventral

• central
• anteroventral
• posteroventral
• dorsoventral
• epicentral
• precentral

Kids Definition

ventral

adjective

ven·​tral

ˈven-trəl

1

: of or relating to the belly : abdominal

2

: being or located on or near the surface of the body that in human beings is the front but in most other animals is the lower surface

a fish's ventral fins

ventrally

-trə-lē

adverb

Medical Definition

ventral

adjective

ven·​tral ˈven-trəl 

1

: of or relating to the belly : abdominal

2

a

: being or located near, on, or toward the lower surface of an animal (as a quadruped) opposite the back or dorsal surface

b

: being or located near, on, or toward the front or anterior part of the human body