Which term means toward the side away from the midline?

• A. Medial
• B. Lateral
• C. Proximal
• D. Distal

Answer: (B)

In anatomy, directional terms describe location relative to the body's midline. The midline is an imaginary line that runs down the center of the body. Medial means closer to that midline, while lateral means farther away from it. Proximal and distal describe distance along a limb relative to the trunk: proximal is closer to the trunk, distal is farther away. So when the instruction is “toward the side away from the midline,” the term that fits is lateral. For example, the ears are lateral to the eyes, which are closer to the midline.