Medial: Anatomical Definition and Usage

In anatomy, medial (from Latin medius, "middle") means situated nearer to the midline or median plane of the body. It is the opposite of lateral (away from the midline).

Examples:

• The medial side of the thigh is closer to the center of the body than the lateral side.
• The medial malleolus is the bony prominence on the inner ankle.
• The sternum is medial to the ribs.

This directional term is essential for precise anatomical description, surgical planning, and clinical documentation.