Orthograde

Part of speech: adjective

Definitions

1. Walking or standing in an upright, vertical position with the body perpendicular to the ground
2. This term describes the capability to maintain a vertical body alignment where the spine is oriented directly upwards relative to the force of gravity
3. This term refers to the ability to move or maintain an upright posture where the body is positioned vertically in relation to the Earth's surface

Etymology: "Orthograde" is a plain technical formation: "ortho-" from Greek "orthos", meaning straight, upright or correct, joined to "-grade", from Latin "gradi", to walk or step. Together they describe a body that walks or stands upright. The term is used in zoology and physiology for animals, or for human posture, that hold the trunk vertically rather than horizontally. The contrast term is "pronograde", meaning body held horizontally, as in most four-legged mammals. Because the pairing is built from classical roots, the word is a modern coinage rather than an ancient one, and its meaning follows directly from the parts: straight-walking.