Lateral is a

geometric term of location Geometric terms of location describe directions or positions relative to the shape of an object. These terms are used in descriptions of engineering, physics, and other sciences, as well as ordinary day-to-day discourse. Though these terms themse ...

which may also refer to:

Biology and healthcare

Lateral (anatomy) Standard anatomical terms of location are used to describe unambiguously the anatomy of humans and other animals. The terms, typically derived from Latin or Greek roots, describe something in its standard anatomical position. This position prov ...

, a term of location meaning "towards the side" *

Lateral cricoarytenoid muscle The lateral cricoarytenoid (also anterior cricoarytenoid) is an intrinsic muscle of the larynx. It attaches at the cricoid cartilage anteriorly, and at the arytenoid cartilage of the same side posteriorly. It is innervated by the recurrent laryn ...

, an intrinsic muscle of the larynx * Lateral release (surgery), a surgical procedure to release tight capsular structures

Other uses

* ''Lateral'', a digital journal and production of the Cultural Studies Association * ''Lateral'', a podcast by English YouTuber and web developer Tom Scott * Lateral canal, a canal built along the same right-of-way as an existing stream *

Lateral consonant A lateral is a consonant in which the airstream proceeds along one or both of the sides of the tongue, but it is blocked by the tongue from going through the middle of the mouth. An example of a lateral consonant is the English ''L'', as in ''L ...

, a consonant in which the airstream proceeds along one or both of the sides of the tongue *

Lateral mark A lateral buoy, lateral post or lateral mark, as defined by the International Association of Marine Aids to Navigation and Lighthouse Authorities, is a sea mark used in maritime pilotage to indicate the edge of a channel (geography), channel. Ea ...

, a sea mark used in maritime pilotage to indicate the edge of a channel * Lateral modes, an aspect of dynamic stability and control in the field of aircraft flight dynamics *

Lateral pass In gridiron football, a lateral pass or lateral (officially backward pass in American football and onside pass in Canadian football), also called a pitch or a flip, occurs when the ball carrier throws or hands the football to a teammate in a dire ...

, a non-advancing move in gridiron football *

Lateral release (phonetics) In phonetics, a lateral release is the release of a plosive consonant into a lateral consonant. Such sounds are transcribed in the IPA with a superscript , for example as in English ''spotless'' . In Old English words such as ''middle''/''middel ...

, the release of a plosive consonant into a lateral consonant *

Lateral support (disambiguation) Lateral support may mean: * Lateral support, a type of support (structure) to help prevent sideways movement * Lateral and subjacent support, a legal term See also * Lateral (disambiguation) * Support (disambiguation) {{disambig ...

Lateral thinking Lateral thinking is a manner of Problem solving, solving problems using an indirect and creativity, creative approach via reasoning that is not immediately obvious. Synonymous to thinking outside the box, it involves ideas that may not be obtai ...

, a manner of solving problems using an indirect and creative approach * ''Lateral'', a 2025 album by

Brian Eno Brian Peter George Jean-Baptiste de la Salle Eno (, born 15 May 1948), also mononymously known as Eno, is an English musician, songwriter, record producer, visual artist, and activist. He is best known for his pioneering contributions to ambien ...

and Beatie Wolfe