DORSUM (dorsa)

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

Irregular inflected form: dorsa   

 Dictionary entry overview: What does dorsum mean? 

• DORSUM (noun)
  The noun DORSUM has 2 senses:

1. the posterior part of a human (or animal) body from the neck to the end of the spine

2. the back of the body of a vertebrate or any analogous surface (as the upper or outer surface of an organ or appendage or part)

  Familiarity information: DORSUM used as a noun is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• DORSUM (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

The posterior part of a human (or animal) body from the neck to the end of the spine

Classified under:

Nouns denoting body parts

Synonyms:

back; dorsum

Context example:

his back was nicely tanned

Hypernyms ("dorsum" is a kind of...):

body part (any part of an organism such as an organ or extremity)

Meronyms (parts of "dorsum"):

saddle (posterior part of the back of a domestic fowl)

small (the slender part of the back)

lat; latissimus dorsi (a broad flat muscle on either side of the back)

dorsal vertebra; thoracic vertebra (one of 12 vertebrae in the human vertebral column; thoracic vertebrae extend from the seventh cervical vertebra down to the first lumbar vertebra)

lumbar vertebra (one of 5 vertebrae in the human vertebral column; lumbar vertebrae extend from the twelfth thoracic vertebra down to the sacral vertebrae)

Holonyms ("dorsum" is a part of...):

body; torso; trunk (the body excluding the head and neck and limbs)

Derivation:

dorsal (belonging to or on or near the back or upper surface of an animal or organ or part)

Sense 2

Meaning:

The back of the body of a vertebrate or any analogous surface (as the upper or outer surface of an organ or appendage or part)

Classified under:

Nouns denoting body parts

Context example:

the dorsum of the foot

Hypernyms ("dorsum" is a kind of...):

body part (any part of an organism such as an organ or extremity)

Derivation:

dorsal (belonging to or on or near the back or upper surface of an animal or organ or part)

 Context examples 

A benign condition of the tongue characterized by hypertrophy of the filiform papillae that give the dorsum of the tongue a furry appearance.

(Hairy Tongue, NLM, Medical Subject Headings)

The accumulation of fluid in the feet, most prominently on the dorsum.

(Pedal Edema, NCI Thesaurus)

The dorsum of the tongue has a furry appearance and is usually stained black.

(Hairy Tongue, NCI Thesaurus)

A sloped depression between the dorsum sellae and foramen magnum at the base of the skull.

(Clivus, NCI Thesaurus)

One of eight or ten projections from the dorsum of the tongue forming a row anterior to and parallel with the sulcus terminalis; each papilla is surrounded by a circular trench (fossa) having a slightly raised outer wall (vallum); on the sides of the vallate papilla and the opposed margin of the vallum are numerous taste buds.

(Circumvallate Papilla, NCI Thesaurus)

A benign condition affecting the dorsum of the tongue.

(Hairy Tongue, NCI Thesaurus)