dorsal
UK: ˈdɔːs(ə)l | US: ˈdɔːrs(ə)l
adj. relating to or situated on the back or upper side of an organism or structure
adj. (in anatomy) pertaining to the posterior part of the body
The word "dorsal" originates from the Latin dorsum (meaning "back"), combined with the adjectival suffix -al (from Latin -alis). It entered English via Old French dorsal in the late Middle Ages, retaining its anatomical focus. The morpheme dors- appears in related terms like "dorsum" (the back of an animal) and "endorse" (literally "to write on the back of a document"). The suffix -al systematically converts nouns into adjectives, as seen in words like "spinal" or "verbal."
The shark’s dorsal fin broke the surface of the water.
In humans, the dorsal side of the hand is opposite the palm.
The biologist studied the dorsal patterns of butterflies.
The turtle’s shell protects its dorsal surface from predators.
MRI scans revealed an abnormality in the dorsal region of the spine.