'anterior-ventral' is a compound of two Latin-derived English elements: 'anterior' (from Latin 'anterior', comparative of 'ante' meaning 'before') and 'ventral' (from Medieval Latin 'ventralis', from Latin 'venter' meaning 'belly').

'anterior' came into English via Late Latin/Medieval Latin 'anterior' meaning 'more before' and through Middle English became 'anterior'; 'ventral' entered English from Medieval Latin 'ventralis' (from Latin 'venter') and the two terms have been combined in modern scientific English to form the compound 'anterior-ventral' (also seen as 'anteroventral').

Individually, 'anterior' originally meant 'more before' (relative position toward the front) and 'ventral' meant 'of the belly'; when combined, they specify a precise anatomical position: toward the front and on the belly side.