Federal agencies to maintain personnel inspection skill with the approval from The
Office of the Surgeon General (OTSG). They may perform these inspections in
overseas areas if directed. The military inspector in CONUS and overseas areas
perform receipt and surveillance inspections (paragraphs 1-3 and 1-4).
Section II. TERMS
1-6.
DIRECTIONS
In order to understand the position and direction of the various parts of the body,
certain descriptive terms are used. In the explanation of these terms, assume that they
apply to an animal in the standing position. See figure 1-1.
Figure 1-1. Directional planes of an animal.
a. Ventral. Directed to the place of support or in this case the surface on which
the animal is standing. Ventral surfaces are directed toward the ground. The ventral
side is considered the "belly side."
b. Dorsal. Directed away from the place of support. The dorsal surfaces are
directed away from the ground. The dorsal side is the "back side." It is opposite of
ventral.
c. Anterior. Directed toward the head of the animal.
d. Posterior. Directed toward the rear of the animal.
MD0710
1-4