Medially

Medially is an adverb formed from the adjective medial. In general English use it means toward or at the midline of a body or structure, or toward a central point within a larger area. It is primarily used in anatomical and biological contexts, where it stands in contrast to laterally, which means toward the outer side.

In anatomical terminology, medially describes the position of a structure relative to the midline of the body. Structures that lie closer to the midline are described as medially located, while those farther from the midline are described as laterally located. For example, the tibia is medial to the fibula, and the heart lies medially within the thoracic cavity, between the lungs. Medial movement refers to moving toward the midline, such as when a limb is drawn inward toward the body's center.

Etymology and related terms: Medially comes from Latin medialis, from medius meaning middle, with the English suffix -ly added to form an adverb. Related terms include medial, which describes something relating to the middle, and the midline, which is the anatomical reference plane that divides the body into left and right halves. The opposite directional term is laterally, meaning toward the outer side.

See also: medial, laterally, midline, sagittal plane, anatomical directions.