'Dorsal vessel' definitions:

Definition of 'Dorsal vessel'

From: GCIDE
  • Dorsal \Dor"sal\, a. [F. dorsal, LL. dorsalis, fr. L. dorsualis, fr. dorsum back; cf. Gr. ?, ?, mountain ridge. Cf. Dorse, Dorsel, Dosel.]
  • 1. (Anat.) Pertaining to, or situated near, the back, or dorsum, of an animal or of one of its parts; notal; tergal; neural; as, the dorsal fin of a fish; the dorsal artery of the tongue; -- opposed to ventral. [1913 Webster]
  • 2. (Bot.) (a) Pertaining to the surface naturally inferior, as of a leaf. (b) Pertaining to the surface naturally superior, as of a creeping hepatic moss. [1913 Webster]
  • Dorsal vessel (Zool.), a central pulsating blood vessel along the back of insects, acting as a heart. [1913 Webster]