Which of the following terms means "near the center of the body"?

The term that means "near the center of the body" is medial. Medial refers to a position that is closer to the midline or center of the body, which can help in describing the location of various body parts or structures in relation to each other. For instance, the heart is medial to the lungs, meaning it is situated closer to the middle of the body than the lungs are.

In contrast, proximal indicates a position that is closer to the point of attachment of a limb to the body, which speaks to a different relationship in anatomical positioning. Similarly, lateral refers to the sides of the body, indicating a position that is farther from the midline, while distal describes a position farther from the point of attachment. Thus, medial is the precise term for something located near the center of the body.