Which term refers to the area near the side of the body?

The term that refers to the area near the side of the body is "later/o." In medical terminology, "later/o" is a combining form that indicates a position or direction toward the side of the body, which is known as lateral. This term is commonly used in anatomy and clinical settings to describe locations, movements, or structures that are positioned away from the midline of the body.

For example, when discussing the human anatomy, one might say that the ears are lateral to the nose, meaning they are located on the sides of the face, away from the midline. Therefore, understanding this term is crucial for accurately describing physical locations and relationships within the body.

The other terms relate to different anatomical locations or features: "pelv/o" pertains to the pelvis area, "inguin/o" refers specifically to the groin, and "poster/o" indicates the back or rear side of the body. Each of these terms has its distinct meaning that does not denote the side position as "later/o" does.