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Lateral

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.

Images

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.