Contralateral in Medicine: Definition & Examples

In medical terminology, "contralateral" means "on the opposite side" of the body. It is used to describe body parts or structures that are located on the opposite side of the body from a reference point, usually the midline. For example, the right arm is contralateral to the left arm, and the left leg is contralateral to the right leg.

The term "contralateral" is often used in medicine to describe symptoms, signs, or conditions that affect one side of the body but are caused by or related to a problem on the opposite side of the body. For example, a patient with a stroke in the left hemisphere of the brain may experience paralysis or weakness on the right side of the body, which is the contralateral side to the stroke.

In some cases, the term "contralateral" may also be used to describe body parts or structures that are located on the opposite side of a body cavity or space. For example, the lungs are contralateral to each other, and the kidneys are contralateral to each other.