Which anatomical term refers to the structure closer to the center of the body?

The term that refers to a structure being closer to the center of the body is "medial." Medial is used in anatomical contexts to describe positions that are nearer to the midline or center of the body. In contrast, "proximal" is used specifically to indicate a position closer to the point of attachment or origin, particularly in relation to limbs, making it applicable in more specific contexts than in general body positioning.

In the context of anatomy, "distal" is the opposite of proximal, indicating a position further away from the point of attachment. Similarly, "lateral" describes something that is farther from the midline of the body. Understanding the distinction between these terms is crucial for accurately describing locations and relationships of different structures within the body.