posterolaterally
Posterolaterally is an adverb used in anatomy and medicine to indicate a location that lies behind and to the side relative to a reference point or plane. It describes a direction that combines posterior (toward the back) and lateral (to the outer side), and is used to convey where a structure, injury, or surgical approach is situated. In clinical descriptions, “posterolaterally” may modify a noun or function as an adverb to describe extension or position, for example “the fracture extended posterolaterally” or “a posterolateral approach to the hip.” The term is commonly applied in relation to the knee, spine, or hip, where posterior-lateral locations are relevant for anatomy and procedures; for instance, the posterolateral corner of the knee or a posterolateral surgical approach to the acetabulum or hip joint.
Etymology and usage notes: the word is formed from posterior and lateral, with the adverbial suffix -ly,