rhizoverbBeta
DictionarydorsalBack or upper side
adjective / noun

dorsal

DOR-sul/ˈdɔːrsl/

On or relating to an animal's back.

Both animals have conspicuous dorsal structures along the tops of their backs.

A compact comparison of a sailfin fish and a crested iguana, each in full side view, with their conspicuous raised structures following the upper midline of the back.
Etymology
dorsLatinback
+alLatinrelating to

Dorsum names the back, so dorsal identifies the back-facing side anatomically. In animals whose back faces upward, that is also the upper side.

In context

Skinterviews by Nathan & George11:26
they have a big dorsal hump on the back of their nose we can do a reductive rhinoplasty to really shave that down
Skinterviews | Season 3 - The Expert Series | Episode 7 - The Nose

More examples

  • Dark spots cover the frog's dorsal surface.
  • A stripe runs along the snake's dorsal side.
  • The two fish have tall, pointed dorsals.

Forms

dorsal · dorsals

dorsally adverb — On or toward an animal's back.

Similar words

posterior
Refers to the rear, not necessarily the back surface.
upper
Describes a higher position, not specifically an animal's back.