Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Ventral \Ven"tral\, a. [L. ventralis, fr. venter the belly;
   perhaps akin to G. wanst: cf. F. ventral.]
   1. (Anat.) Of, pertaining to, or situated near, the belly, or
      ventral side, of an animal or of one of its parts; hemal;
      abdominal; as, the ventral fin of a fish; the ventral root
      of a spinal nerve; -- opposed to {dorsal}.

   2. (Bot.)
      (a) Of or pertaining to that surface of a carpel, petal,
          etc., which faces toward the center of a flower.
      (b) Of or pertaining to the lower side or surface of a
          creeping moss or other low flowerless plant. Opposed
          to {dorsal}.

   {Ventral fins} (Zo["o]l.), the posterior pair of fins of a
      fish. They are often situated beneath the belly, but
      sometimes beneath the throat.

   {Ventral segment}. (Acoustics) See {Loop}, n., 5.