Lateral means to the side of, or away from, the middle of the body.
Examples:
- The ears are lateral to the nose.
- The arms are lateral to the chest.
References
Merriam-Webster Dictionary. Lateral. www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lateral. Accessed January 17, 2023.
Review Date 10/20/2022
Updated by: Linda J. Vorvick, MD, Clinical Professor, Department of Family Medicine, UW Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
