Which direction does the term ventral indicate?

The term "ventral" refers to the front side of the body in anatomical terminology. This is derived from the Latin word "venter," which means belly or abdomen. In the context of human anatomy, the ventral side is where the face, chest, and abdomen are located, essentially the anterior aspect of the body.

In contrast, the opposite of ventral is dorsal, which indicates the back side of the body. Understanding these directional terms is crucial for accurately describing locations and relations of structures in the body, particularly in fields such as medicine and biology where clarity about position and orientation is essential for communication and treatment.