postaxial

[ pohst-ak-see-uhl ]

adjective

, Anatomy, Zoology.

1. pertaining to or situated behind the axis of the body, especially the posterior side of the axis of a limb.

postaxial

/ pəʊstˈæksɪəl /

adjective

1. situated or occurring behind the axis of the body
2. of or relating to the posterior part of a vertebrate limb

Other Words From

• post·axi·al·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of postaxial¹

First recorded in 1870–75; post- + axial

Example Sentences

Each limb then has a dorsal surface, a ventral surface, an anterior or pre-axial edge, and a posterior or postaxial edge.

From Project Gutenberg

In the anterior limb the radius and the pollex are pre-axial, the ulna and the fifth finger are postaxial.

From Project Gutenberg

In the posterior limb the tibia and the hallux are pre-axial, the fibula and the fifth toe are postaxial.

From Project Gutenberg

Archipterygia too are found in the pectoral fins of the Ichthyotomi, but the postaxial radiale are much reduced.

From Project Gutenberg

The ulna or postaxial bone is somewhat expanded distally, but is not drawn out proximally into an olecranon process.

From Project Gutenberg