Which term is used to indicate a position that is away from the midline of the body?

The term that indicates a position away from the midline of the body is "lateral." In anatomical terms, the midline refers to an imaginary line that divides the body into equal right and left halves. Anything located further from this midline is described as lateral. For example, the arms are lateral to the torso because they extend away from the midline of the body.

This terminology is critical in anatomy for accurately describing the locations of structures in the body and is commonly used in medical settings to communicate effectively about patient anatomy. Understanding this concept is fundamental for medical assistants, especially when documenting patient assessments or explaining conditions relating to the body’s positioning.