Final answer:
The term 'lateral' describes the side of the body farther from the vertical midline. It contrasts with 'medial', which indicates closeness to the midline. Other related directional terms include anterior, posterior, inferior, and superior.
Step-by-step explanation:
The term used to describe the side of the body that is farther from the vertical midline of the body is lateral. This term indicates a position toward the side of the body. An example of this would be the thumb, which is described as lateral to the digits (fingers) because it is positioned away from the midline of the hand. On the contrary, the term medial is used to indicate something nearer to the midline of the body, such as the big toe (hallux) which is the medial toe.
Other important directional terms in anatomy include anterior (or ventral) for the front of the body, posterior (or dorsal) for the back, inferior (or caudal) for a position lower in the body, and superior (or cranial) for a position higher in the body. For example, the pelvis is inferior to the abdomen because it is located towards the lower part of the spine (the coccyx).