In anatomical terms, what does "lateral" mean?

In anatomical terminology, "lateral" specifically refers to a position that is further away from the midline of the body. It indicates the sides of the body, as opposed to structures that are located towards the center or middle. For instance, in discussing human anatomy, the ears are considered lateral structures relative to the nose, which is situated at the midline. Understanding this term is crucial for accurately describing the location of various body parts and is a foundational concept in anatomy and physiology.