Which anatomical term means away from the midline?

The term that means away from the midline is "lateral." This anatomical descriptor is used to indicate the position of one body part relative to another. When something is described as lateral, it is positioned further from the center of the body compared to another structure. For example, the arms are lateral to the chest since they are located on the outer sides of the torso.

Medial, on the other hand, refers to a position that is closer to the midline of the body. Anterior describes a position toward the front of the body, while posterior refers to a position toward the back. Therefore, when considering the relationship of body parts to the midline, lateral appropriately denotes the idea of being further away from that central line. This understanding is important for accurately describing locations of injuries, surgical sites, or anatomical relationships in physical therapy and medical practice.