What is the difference between lateral and longitudinal directions?

The lateral direction is perpendicular to the body's long axis, while the longitudinal direction is parallel to the body's long axis.

Lateral direction:

* Also known as the side-to-side direction

* Runs from left to right or right to left

* Examples of lateral movements include raising your arm out to the side or stepping to the side

Longitudinal direction:

* Also known as the up-and-down direction

* Runs from head to toe or toe to head

* Examples of longitudinal movements include jumping up and down or raising your arm up over your head

Here is a table summarizing the differences between the lateral and longitudinal directions:

| Feature | Lateral Direction | Longitudinal Direction |

|---|---|---|

| Orientation | Perpendicular to body's long axis | Parallel to body's long axis |

| Other names | Side-to-side direction | Up-and-down direction |

| Examples | Raising your arm out to the side, stepping to the side | Jumping up and down, raising your arm up over your head |