posterior

[po-steer-ee-er, poh-] /pɒˈstɪər i ər, poʊ-/
adjective
1.
situated behind or at the rear of; hinder (opposed to anterior).
2.
coming after in order, as in a series.
3.
coming after in time; later; subsequent (sometimes followed by to).
4.
Anatomy, Zoology.
  1. (in quadrupeds) pertaining to or toward the rear or caudal end of the body.
  2. (in humans and other primates) pertaining to or toward the back plane of the body, equivalent to the dorsal surface of quadrupeds.
5.
Botany. toward the back and near the main axis, as the upper lip of a flower.
noun
6.
the hinder parts or rump of the body; buttocks.
Origin
1525-35; < Latin, comparative of posterus coming after, derivative of post after
Related forms
posteriorly, adverb
Synonyms
1. See back1 .
Examples from the web for posterior
  • Oropharyngeal cancers refer to tumors of the tonsils and rear tongue, back of the palate and posterior walls of the throat.
  • One photo showed the posterior of the ailing bird-Ms.
  • Or, for that matter, the aforementioned posterior from a hole in the ground.
  • The organs in its posterior end, except those involved in reproduction, begin to degenerate.
  • He suffered a torn medial collateral ligament and posterior cruciate ligament.
  • He's one of those guys who separately works out the anterior, medial, and posterior heads of his deltoids.
  • The sacrum forms the posterior pelvic wall and strengthens and stabilizes the pelvis.
  • Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation is seen here in a mottled pattern, over the posterior shoulder.
  • If nothing else, it may light a little fire under your chair's posterior.
  • Inevitably he reaches a point where his posterior is directly above her nose.
British Dictionary definitions for posterior

posterior

/pɒˈstɪərɪə/
adjective
1.
situated at the back of or behind something
2.
coming after or following another in a series
3.
coming after in time
4.
(zoology) (of animals) of or near the hind end
5.
(botany) (of a flower) situated nearest to the main stem
6.
(anatomy) dorsal or towards the spine
noun
7.
the buttocks; rump
8.
(statistics) a posterior probability
Compare anterior
Derived Forms
posteriorly, adverb
Word Origin
C16: from Latin: latter, from posterus coming next, from post after
Word Origin and History for posterior
adj.

1530s, "later," from Latin posterior "after, later, behind," comparative of posterus "coming after, subsequent," from post "after" (see post-). Meaning "situated behind" is from 1630s.

n.

"buttocks," euphemistic, 1610s, from posterior (adj.). Earlier it meant "those who come after, posterity" (1530s). Cf. Lithuanian pasturas "the last, the hindmost," from pas "at, by."

posterior in Medicine

posterior pos·te·ri·or (pŏ-stēr'ē-ər, pō-)
adj.

  1. Located behind a part or toward the rear of a structure.

  2. Relating to the caudal end of the body in quadrupeds or the dorsal side in humans.

  3. Near the tail or caudal end of certain embryos.

pos·te'ri·or·ly adv.