Bilateral conditions affect both sides of the body, while unilateral conditions affect only one side. This distinction can provide clues as to the underlying cause of a disease. The terms are typically used to describe organs or features found on both sides of the body. Bilateral disease often results from conditions that affect the entire body, while unilateral disease could result from a more localized problem.
The terms bilateral and unilateral are used to refer to which sides of the body are affected by certain pathological conditions. Bilateral conditions affect both sides of the body and unilateral conditions affect only one side. Only body parts that lie symmetrically on both sides of the body are typically described by these terms. Whether a disease affects one side or both sides of the body can usually offer clues as to why that disease developed.
Bilateral conditions affect both sides of the body. Due to the symmetry of the human body, many body features and organs are replicated and located on both sides of the body, including the kidneys, eyes, ears, arms, and legs. Different disease processes could affect both organs, causing bilateral involvement.
Other medical conditions may only affect one side of the body and would be considered unilateral. For example, there are two kidneys present in the body. If a disease affects only one of the kidneys, the affected individual is said to have unilateral renal involvement.
For some organs and body features, the use of the terms bilateral and unilateral as descriptors makes no sense. For example, there is only one liver located in the human body. Disease in the liver would not be referred to as unilateral liver disease, because saying this would imply that there was a normal liver located on the other side of the body. This is not the case as there is only one liver. Therefore, bilateral and unilateral are typically only used to describe organs or features found on both sides of the body.
The difference between bilateral and unilateral body involvement can often suggest that some type of disease process is occurring. The presence of arthritis in the hands is an illustrative example of the difference in the causes of bilateral and unilateral conditions. Having pain and stiffness in both hands at the same time could suggest an underlying systemic process, such as the inflammatory disease of rheumatoid arthritis. Conversely, if a person had arthritis only in their left wrist and no other joints, these symptoms could have been caused by a past injury to that joint. Bilateral disease typically results from conditions that affect the entire body, while unilateral disease could result from a more localized problem.
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