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dorsal

Dorsal means towards the back, that is, located on the back of the body. The opposite term is ventral. On the hand and foot, dorsal refers to the back of the hand and the top of the foot.

Latin dorsum = back

towards the back, posterior

dorsal, posterior

On the hand, dorsal is the counterpart of palmar; on the foot, of plantar. These special terms exist because the palm and the sole are functionally surfaces in their own right.

The pulse of the arteria dorsalis pedis is felt on the top of the foot and is part of the standard examination of the circulation.

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