The term 'medial' describes a location toward what?

The term 'medial' describes a location toward what?

• A. Toward the middle of the body
• B. Toward the outside of the body
• C. Toward the head
• D. Toward the tail

Answer: (A)

Medial describes a position toward the midline of the body—the imaginary vertical line that divides the body into left and right halves. When something is medial, it is closer to that midline; things toward the outside are called lateral. For example, the nose is medial to the eyes because it sits nearer the center of the face, while the ears are lateral to the nose. Terms for directions toward the head or toward the tail are separate (superior/cranial toward the head and inferior/caudal toward the tail). So medial means toward the middle of the body.

Medial describes a position toward the midline of the body—the imaginary vertical line that divides the body into left and right halves. When something is medial, it is closer to that midline; things toward the outside are called lateral. For example, the nose is medial to the eyes because it sits nearer the center of the face, while the ears are lateral to the nose. Terms for directions toward the head or toward the tail are separate (superior/cranial toward the head and inferior/caudal toward the tail). So medial means toward the middle of the body.