Which term describes movement toward the midline of the body?

Which term describes movement toward the midline of the body?

• A. Lateral
• B. Medial
• C. Proximal
• D. Distal

Answer: (B)

Medial describes being closer to the midline of the body, the imaginary line that divides left and right halves. If a part is toward that center line, it is medial; away from it is lateral. Proximal and distal describe distance from a point of origin or the trunk—proximal means nearer to the trunk, distal means farther away. For example, the nose is medial to the eyes, while the ears are lateral to the nose; the wrist is distal to the elbow, and the elbow is proximal to the hand. In many contexts, movement toward the midline is called adduction, but when describing position relative to the midline, medial is the term that fits.

Medial describes being closer to the midline of the body, the imaginary line that divides left and right halves. If a part is toward that center line, it is medial; away from it is lateral. Proximal and distal describe distance from a point of origin or the trunk—proximal means nearer to the trunk, distal means farther away. For example, the nose is medial to the eyes, while the ears are lateral to the nose; the wrist is distal to the elbow, and the elbow is proximal to the hand. In many contexts, movement toward the midline is called adduction, but when describing position relative to the midline, medial is the term that fits.