What does the term "contralateral" mean?

The term "contralateral" refers to structures or parts of the body that are located on opposite sides. For instance, if you have a condition affecting the left arm, the contralateral structure would be the right arm, as both are on opposite sides of the body. This term is important in anatomy and medicine for describing relationships between various body parts, particularly in contexts involving injuries, surgeries, or neurological assessments where understanding the location relative to other structures is crucial. The other terms describe different spatial relationships such as being at the midline or on the same side, or refer to depth from the surface, which do not align with the definition of contralateral.