What does the term 'lateral' refer to in anatomical terms?

In anatomical terminology, 'lateral' is defined as being situated away from the midline of the body. This means that structures that are described as lateral are positioned toward the sides of the body, as opposed to being close to the center. For instance, when referring to the arms or legs, the terms ‘lateral’ would highlight how these limbs extend outwards from the trunk of the body.

Understanding the concept of midline is crucial, as it's an imaginary vertical line that divides the body into left and right halves. Therefore, any structure that is more distant from this midline is categorized as lateral. This term is commonly used in various contexts, such as when comparing the positions of organs. For instance, the ears are lateral to the nose because they are located further away from the midline of the face.