Laterally

Laterally is an adverb used to indicate movement toward the side of the body or away from the midline, or to describe something positioned on the side. It is the adverbial form of lateral, an adjective common in anatomy and related fields to denote relative position.

In anatomical and medical usage, laterally describes actions such as moving a limb outward to the side (lateral abduction) or rotating a part away from the midline (lateral rotation). It is often contrasted with medially, which means toward the midline. Clinically, the term appears in phrases like lateral displacement, lateral deviation, or lateral bending, where a structure or segment shifts or tilts to the side. The spine, limbs, and joints are common contexts for these descriptions, and viewing planes such as the frontal plane help define lateral movement or orientation.

Beyond human anatomy, laterally can describe side-to-side motion in animals, machinery, or biomechanics. It is also used in radiology, sports science, and comparative anatomy to discuss stability, loads, or movements that occur along the side of an object or organism.

Etymology and related terms: laterally derives from Latin lateralis, meaning “of the side,” itself from latus, meaning “side.” Related terms include lateral (adjective) and laterality (the quality of being on a side).