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Caudal: meaning, definitions and examples

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caudal

 

[ ˈkɔː.dəl ]

Adjective
Context #1 | Adjective

anatomical term

Caudal is an anatomical term that refers to a position towards the tail or posterior end of an organism. It is commonly used in the fields of biology and medicine to describe the location of body parts in relation to one another. This term is often contrasted with 'cranial,' which indicates a position towards the head. For example, in human anatomy, the caudal position could describe the location of structures towards the lower back. This term is particularly relevant in comparative anatomy and when discussing the anatomy of non-human animals.

Synonyms

inferior, posterior, tailward

Examples of usage

  • The caudal fin of the fish helps it steer.
  • In anatomical terms, the heart is cranial to the stomach, and the stomach is caudal to the heart.
  • The caudal vertebrae are located towards the tail of the vertebrate.
  • Surgical procedures may require access to caudal areas of the body.

Translations

Translations of the word "caudal" in other languages:

🇵🇹 caudal

🇮🇳 धारा

🇩🇪 Durchfluss

🇮🇩 aliran

🇺🇦 потік

🇵🇱 przepływ

🇯🇵 流量

🇫🇷 débit

🇪🇸 caudal

🇹🇷 akış

🇰🇷 유량

🇸🇦 تدفق

🇨🇿 průtok

🇸🇰 prietok

🇨🇳 流量

🇸🇮 pretok

🇮🇸 flæði

🇰🇿 ағын

🇬🇪 მდინარე

🇦🇿 axın

🇲🇽 caudal

Word origin

The term 'caudal' originates from the Latin word 'caudalis,' which itself is derived from 'cauda,' meaning 'tail.' The usage of 'caudal' in medical and anatomical contexts has evolved to provide a universal reference point for describing the positioning of body parts in relation to the main axis of an organism. As anatomical science developed, especially during the Renaissance, precise terminology became essential for clear communication in both education and practice. The adoption of terms like 'caudal' reflects a systematic approach to understanding and describing complex biological structures in animals and humans alike. It has since been standard in various scientific disciplines, including zoology and anthropology, to provide clarity in anatomical descriptions, facilitating more nuanced discussions in both scholarly and clinical settings.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranked #10,808, this word falls into high-advanced vocabulary. It appears less frequently but is valuable for expressing precise meanings in specific contexts.