Which term describes a direction away from the midline of the body?

The term that describes a direction away from the midline of the body is "lateral." In anatomical terminology, "lateral" is used to indicate that a structure is situated further from the centerline or median plane of the body. For instance, the ears are lateral to the nose because they are located on the sides of the head, away from the midline.

In contrast, "medial" refers to a position closer to the midline, "inferior" denotes being situated lower than another structure, and "proximal" describes a location that is closer to the point of attachment or origin of a limb relative to the body. Understanding these terms is crucial for effectively communicating about the human body's anatomy.