postdorsal
|post-dor-sal|
🇺🇸
/poʊstˈdɔrsəl/
🇬🇧
/pəʊstˈdɔːs(ə)l/
behind the dorsal (back)
Etymology
'postdorsal' originates from the Latin prefix 'post-' meaning 'after' or 'behind' and 'dorsal', from Latin 'dorsum' meaning 'back'.
'dorsal' comes from Latin 'dorsum' which entered scientific/medical Latin as 'dorsalis' and then Middle/Modern English as 'dorsal'; the prefix 'post-' (Latin) was combined with 'dorsal' in modern scientific English to form 'postdorsal'.
Initially the elements meant 'after' (post-) and 'back' (dorsum); over time they were combined in technical anatomy/zoology to mean specifically 'situated posterior to the dorsal region or dorsal fin'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a structure or area located behind the dorsal fin or dorsal surface (e.g., a small fin or spine behind the main dorsal fin).
A small postdorsal was observed immediately posterior to the main dorsal fin.
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Adjective 1
situated behind the dorsal region or dorsal fin; posterior to the back or dorsal surface (used in anatomy and zoology).
The postdorsal region of the fish showed distinctive pigmentation.
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Last updated: 2025/10/02 22:23