from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Ventral \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}.
[1913 Webster]
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}.
[1913 Webster]
{Ventral fins} (Zool.), 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.
[1913 Webster]