Dor"sal (?), a. [F. dorsal, LL.
dorsalis, fr. L. dorsualis, fr. dorsum back; cf.
Gr. &?;, &?;, mountain ridge. Cf. Dorse, Dorsel,
Dosel.] 1. (Anat.) Pertaining to,
or situated near, the back, or dorsum, of an animal or of one of its
parts; notal; tergal; neural; as, the dorsal fin of a fish;
the dorsal artery of the tongue; -- opposed to
ventral.
2. (Bot.) (a)
Pertaining to the surface naturally inferior, as of a
leaf. (b) Pertaining to the surface
naturally superior, as of a creeping hepatic moss.
Dorsal vessel (Zoöl.), a central
pulsating blood vessel along the back of insects, acting as a
heart.
Dor"sal, n. [LL. dorsale, neut.
fr. dorsalis. See Dorsal, a.]
(Fine Arts) A hanging, usually of rich stuff, at the back
of a throne, or of an altar, or in any similar position.
