dextral
Clockwise-spiraling in shells
Dextral means right-sided or turning to the right.
In biology, it describes organisms or structures that spiral clockwise when viewed from above—most snail shells are dextral.
The term appears in technical contexts where distinguishing right from left matters: anatomy, geology, handedness studies.
A dextral person is right-handed, though this usage is rare outside scientific writing.
The opposite is sinistral.
Rightward circular motion
- helixSpiraling three-dimensional curve
- whorlSpiral arrangement of ridges
- shellHard outer covering
- gastropodSingle-shelled soft creature
snail · coil · spiral · rotation · chirality · conch · whelk · turbinate
Toward the right side
- rightmostFurthest to the right
- right-handOpposite of left
- starboardVessel's right-hand side
- offsideIllegal forward position
rightwards · eastern · clockwise · orientation · directional · lateral · bilateral · asymmetrical
Favoring one's stronger side
- southpawLeft-handed person, informally
- leftyNon-dominant-side user
- sinistralLeft-side dominant
- dominanceSuperior influence over others
laterality · handedness · left-handedness · neurology · lateralization · manual · penmanship · calligraphy
clockwise
Rightward circular motion
gastropod · snail · coil · spiral · rotation · chirality · conch · whelk · turbinate · helical
rightward
Toward the right side
- rightmostFurthest to the right
- right-handOpposite of left
- starboardVessel's right-hand side
offside · rightwards · eastern · clockwise · orientation · directional · lateral · bilateral · asymmetrical · position
right-handed
Favoring one's stronger side
dominance · laterality · handedness · left-handedness · neurology · lateralization · manual · penmanship · calligraphy · chirography
adroit
Mentally or physically nimble
deft · handy · proficient · masterful · clever · agile · expert · capable · accomplished · coordinated
- brain lateralitylaterality, handedness, brain lateralization, left-handedness, right-handedness
- mollusk partsradula, mantle, shell, siphon, gills
dextralsinistral
Left-side dominant
left-handed · sinister · left · counterclockwise · anticlockwise