AMCI Introduction to Medical Terminology for I2MC Practice Test

Lateral describes a position farther from the midline of the body, toward the outside. In the usual standing anatomical position, the midline runs down the center; lateral means moving away from that line toward the sides, as when the ears are on the lateral side of the head or the arms sit on the lateral aspect of the torso. This differs from medial, which means closer to the midline; sagittal refers to a vertical plane that divides left from right (not specifically an outer or inner direction); and dorsal refers to the back side of the body. So, toward the outer side is the lateral direction.