Which anatomical direction describes a position away from the midline of the body?

The anatomical direction that describes a position away from the midline of the body is lateral. In anatomical terminology, the midline refers to an imaginary vertical line that divides the body into equal right and left halves. Structures that are lateral are positioned farther from this midline, meaning they are located toward the sides of the body.

For example, when considering the human body, the arms are lateral to the torso, as they are located on the sides rather than at the center. This terminology is crucial in medical settings for accurately locating and describing injuries, conditions, and anatomical landmarks.

Understanding the distinctions between other directional terms is important as well. Medial indicates a position closer to the midline, while distal and proximal relate to the point of attachment of a limb to the trunk or the center of the body. Distal refers to a position further away from this point of attachment, and proximal indicates a position closer to it. Thus, in this context, lateral is clearly the correct answer as it specifically describes the orientation away from the midline.