What term describes farther from the midline?

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

Answer: (C)

Farther from the midline is described as lateral. The midline is the imaginary vertical line that divides the body into left and right halves, so lateral means toward the sides away from that line. This term contrasts with medial, which means closer to the midline. Proximal and distal describe distance along a limb relative to the trunk (proximal is nearer the trunk, distal is farther from it), and superficial describes depth from the body's surface (closer to the surface). For example, the ear is lateral to the nose, and the wrist is distal to the elbow, while the skin is superficial to the underlying tissues.