Main Campus: Chesterfield, MO 63017 | 
Medial
Medial means toward the middle or center. It is the opposite of lateral . The term is used to describe general positions of body parts. For example, the chest is medial to the arm.
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....
Your health care provider may use this term to clearly explain the relationship between things found during a physical exam or on medical tests.
References
Drake RL, Vogel AW, Mitchell AWM. The body. In: Drake RL, Vogel AW, Mitchell AWM, eds. Gray's Atlas of Anatomy . 2nd ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Churchill Livingstone; 2015:chap 1.
-
Anatomical landmarks, back view - illustration
There are three body views (front, back and side) that may be helpful if you are uncertain of a body area. Many areas are referred to by both descriptive and technical names. For example, the back of the knee is called the popliteal fossa. However, areas like the "flank" may not have both names, so the location may be unclear.
Anatomical landmarks, back view
illustration
-
Anatomical landmarks, front view - illustration
There are three body views (front, back and side) that may be helpful if you are uncertain of a body area. Many areas are referred to by both descriptive and technical names. For example, the back of the knee is called the popliteal fossa. However, areas like the "flank" may not have both names, so the location may be unclear.
Anatomical landmarks, front view
illustration
-
Medial orientation - illustration
Medial orientation refers to a position toward the middle or center. For example, the big toe is medial to the second toe on the same foot.
Medial orientation
illustration
-
Anatomical landmarks, back view - illustration
There are three body views (front, back and side) that may be helpful if you are uncertain of a body area. Many areas are referred to by both descriptive and technical names. For example, the back of the knee is called the popliteal fossa. However, areas like the "flank" may not have both names, so the location may be unclear.
Anatomical landmarks, back view
illustration
-
Anatomical landmarks, front view - illustration
There are three body views (front, back and side) that may be helpful if you are uncertain of a body area. Many areas are referred to by both descriptive and technical names. For example, the back of the knee is called the popliteal fossa. However, areas like the "flank" may not have both names, so the location may be unclear.
Anatomical landmarks, front view
illustration
-
Medial orientation - illustration
Medial orientation refers to a position toward the middle or center. For example, the big toe is medial to the second toe on the same foot.
Medial orientation
illustration
Review Date: 7/13/2016
Reviewed By: Linda J. Vorvick, MD, Medical Director and Director of Didactic Curriculum, MEDEX Northwest Division of Physician Assistant Studies, Department of Family Medicine, UW Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Isla Ogilvie, PhD, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
