In an anatomical context, 'medial' means?

In anatomical terms, 'medial' refers to a position that is closer to the midline of the body. The midline is an imaginary line that divides the body into equal right and left halves. Therefore, when something is described as being medial, it indicates that it is situated toward this central point. For example, the nose is medial to the cheeks, as it is located closer to the midline of the face.

In practice, understanding the concept of medial is crucial for accurately describing locations and relationships of body parts, especially in various medical and clinical contexts, such as imaging and surgery. This term helps avoid confusion by providing a clear and universal point of reference in the body.