Chapter 2

• Ventral


  Refers to the belly or underside of the body or body part
• Ventr/o


  Belly in Latin
• Venture


  To undertake
• A ventral fin is on the belly.
• Dorsal


  Refers to the back and the cranial surface of the manus and pes.
• Dors/o


  Back in Latin
• Endorse


  Sign on the back
• A dorsal fin is on the back.
• Cranial


  Toward the head
• Crani/o


  Skull in Latin
• Caudal


  Toward the tail
• Cauda


  Tail in Latin
• Anterior


  Front of the body
• Anteri/o


  Before
• Anterior is used more in the description of organs or body parts because front and rear are confusing terms on quadrupeds. A quadruped's belly is oriented downward, not forward as in humans.
• Posterior


  Rear of the body
• Posteri/o


  Behind in Latin
• Rostral


  Nose end of the head
• Rostrum


  Beak in Latin
• Cephalic


  Pertaining to the head
• Kephale


  Head in Greek
• Caudal


  Toward the tail
• Cauda


  Tail in Latin
• Medial


  Toward the midline
• Medi/o


  Middle in Latin
• Lateral


  Away from the midline
• Later/o


  Side in Latin
• Superior


  Uppermost, above, toward the head
• Superior and inferior are used more commonly in bipeds.
• Super


  Above in Latin
• Inferior


  Lowermost, below, toward the tail
• Inferi


  Lower in Latin
• Proximal


  Nearest the midline or nearest to the beginning of a structure.
• Proxim/o


  Next in Latin
• Distal


  Farthest from the midline or farthest from the beginning of a structure.
• Dist/o


  Distant in Latin
• Superficial


  Near the surface or external
• Deep


  Away from the surface, internal, or beneath the surface
• Palmer


  The caudal surface of the manus, including the carpus. Or from the antebrachial joint to the manus.
• Manus


  Front paw