1. relating to or extending between the back (dorsal) and belly (ventral) surfaces of an organism or body part
Usage: biology, anatomy
2. flattened or compressed from top to bottom rather than from side to side
Usage: biology, zoology

Examples

• The dorsoventral axis of the embryo runs from head to tail.
• Fish with dorsoventral flattening are adapted to life on the ocean floor.
• The dorsoventral plane divides the organism into upper and lower halves.
• Dorsoventral asymmetry is common in flatfish species.
• The dorsoventral gradient of gene expression determines cell fate during development.