Midline

Midline refers to the anatomical concept in biology and medicine that denotes the median plane or central line of a body. It is a term used to describe structures that lie near or exactly in the median plane of the body. The midline is an important reference point in anatomy and is used to standardize the location of anatomical structures.

Definition

The midline is a vertical line that divides the body into equal left and right halves. It is an imaginary line that runs from the head to the feet, and it is used as a reference point in anatomy to describe the location of structures in relation to the center of the body.

Anatomical Structures

Many important anatomical structures lie near or on the midline. These include the nose, the navel, and the spine. The midline is also used to describe the location of internal organs, such as the heart, which is located slightly to the left of the midline.

Clinical Significance

In clinical practice, the midline is used to guide procedures such as lumbar puncture and central venous catheter insertion. Deviation from the midline can also be a sign of medical conditions such as scoliosis, which is a sideways curvature of the spine.

See Also

• Anatomical terms of location
• Median plane
• Sagittal plane

References

Midline Resources
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