adverb
- in a manner relating to or extending between the dorsal (back) and ventral (belly) surfaces of an organism
Usage: biology; anatomy
Examples
- The fish's muscles are arranged dorsiventrally, running from its back to its belly.
- Leaves that are flattened dorsiventrally have distinct upper and lower surfaces.
- The organism's body is compressed dorsiventrally, making it appear flat from top to bottom.
- In dorsiventrally flattened animals, the dorsal side often differs in color from the ventral side.