Which body position term pertains to a side or is away from the midline?

The term that describes a position towards the side of the body, or away from the midline, is referred to as "lateral." In anatomical terminology, the midline is an imaginary line that divides the body into equal right and left halves. When something is described as lateral, it means that it is further away from this midline. For example, the arms are lateral to the torso, as they are on the sides of the body, away from the center.

Understanding this concept is crucial in fields like medicine, biology, and anatomy, as it provides clarity in discussing the relative positions of different parts of the body. The other terms define different spatial relationships: "medial" refers to being closer to the midline, "proximal" indicates a location closer to the point of attachment or trunk of the body, and "dorsal" refers to the back side of the body.