Which term best describes the anatomical position "lateral"?

The term "lateral" refers to a position that is toward the outer sides of the body, meaning it describes locations that are further away from the midline of the body. In anatomical terms, when something is described as lateral, it indicates that the structure is on the side, as opposed to being medial, which means closer to the center or midline.

For instance, the ears are lateral to the nose; as the nose is centrally located on the face, the ears are positioned on either side. Understanding the concept of lateral is important for various fields in healthcare and anatomy, as it helps in accurately describing the location of organs, limbs, and other structures in relation to one another.