medial

(adjective)

Pertaining to the inside; closer to the midline.

Related Terms

Examples of medial in the following topics:

  • Carpals, Metacarpals, and Phalanges (The Hand)

    • The carpals are often split into two rows, the proximal row containing the scaphoid, lunate, triquetrum, and pisiform, moving lateral to medial.
    • The distal row contains the trapezium, trapezoid, capitate, and hamate, moving lateral to medial.
    • They are numbered moving lateral to medial, and start with the thumb, which is metacarpal I, and end with metacarpal V, the little finger.
    • Each metacarpal consists of a base, shaft, and head, with the concave lateral and medial borders of the shaft allowing attachment of the interossei muscles.
    • The digits are named in a similar fashion to the metacarpals, moving lateral to medial, and starting at the thumb.

  • Orbits

    • Completing the basal and medial border of the orbital rim is the maxillary bone, which also forms the inferior wall (floor) of the orbital surface.
    • The lacrimal and ethmoid bones contribute to the medial wall of the orbit and also to the medial wall of the orbital canal.

  • Tibia and Fibula (The Leg)

    • The tibia is located medially to the fibula and is much larger.
    • It widens and forms two condyles—the lateral and medial—that articulate with the condyles of the femur.
    • The medial malleolus is a bony projection that articulates with the tarsal bones to form the ankle joint.
    • Distally, the fibula forms the lateral malleolus, which is more prominent than the medial malleolus of the tibia.

  • Femur (The Thigh)

    • The femoral head projects medially and superiorly and articulates with the acetabulum of the pelvis to form the hip joint.
    • The shaft descends in a slightly medial direction that is designed to bring the knees closer to the body’s center of gravity, increasing stability.
    • Two rounded regions, termed the medial and lateral condyles, articulate with the tibia at the most anterior projection of the patella.
    • Finally, the two epicondyles, the medial and lateral, lie immediately proximal to the condyles; they are also regions where key internal knee ligaments attach.

  • Tarsals, Metatarsals, and Phalanges (The Foot)

    • The navicular bone plays a key role in maintaining the medial longitudinal arch of the foot.
    • There are four distal tarsals: the lateral cuboid and the three cuneiforms, located medially.
    • The foot contains five metatarsals that are numbered I–V, moving medial to lateral, big toe to little toe.
    • The digits are named in a similar fashion to the metatarsals, medial to lateral from the big toe.

  • Arches of the Feet

    • The main arches are the antero-posterior arches, which may, for descriptive purposes, be regarded as divisible into two types—a medial and a lateral.
    • As can be examined in a footprint, the medial longitudinal arch curves above the ground.
    • The ligament is strengthened medially by blending with the deltoid ligament of the ankle joint, and is supported inferiorly by the tendon of the tibialis posterior, which is spread out in a fan-shaped insertion and prevents undue tension of the ligament or such an amount of stretching as would permanently elongate it.
    • While these medial and lateral arches may be readily demonstrated as the component antero-posterior arches of the foot, the fundamental longitudinal arch is contributed to by both, and consists of the calcaneus, cuboid, third cuneiform, and third metatarsal: all the other bones of the foot may be removed without destroying this arch.
    • These are directed downward and medially, so that when the medial borders of the feet are placed in apposition, a complete tarsal dome is formed.

  • Chewing Muscles

    • Medial Pterygoid - The medial pterygoid muscle has a quadrangular shape with two heads, deep and superficial.
    • Arrows indicate the location of the lateral pterygoid, highlighted with the medial pterygoid in orange.

  • Pubis

    • The body of the pubis is a wide, strong, medial, and flat portion of the pubic bone that unites with the pubic symphisis.
    • It is described in two portions, which are a medial flattened part and a narrow lateral prismoid portion.
    • It passes laterally and downward from the medial end of the superior ramus, and becomes narrower as it descends and joins with the inferior ramus of the ischium below the obturator foramen.

  • Clavicle

    • Medially the clavicle is quadrangular in shape and articulates with the manubrium of the sternum forming the sternoclavicular joint. 
    • At the medial end of the shaft the pectoralis major originates from the anterior surface, the posterior surface gives origin to the sternohyoid muscle and the superior surface the sternocleidomastoid muscle.

  • Muscles that Cause Movement at the Foot

    • The first muscle attaches to the medial side of the phalanx of the second toe.
    • Abductor Hallucis - The abductor hallucis muscle is located on the medial side of the sole.
    • Flexor Hallucis Brevis - The flexor hallucis brevis muscle is located on the medial side of the foot.
    • Attachments - Originates from the medial side of metatarsals three to five.
    • Attaches to the medial sides of the phalanges of digits three to five.