What term is used to refer to lines running from the North Pole to the South Pole?

The term used to refer to lines running from the North Pole to the South Pole is "Longitude." These lines, also known as meridians, are measured in degrees and help to define the geographic coordinate system used for locating points on the Earth's surface.

Each line of longitude is designated by the angle formed between that line and the Prime Meridian, which is set at 0 degrees. These lines help in determining time zones and navigating the globe, as they indicate positions east or west of the Prime Meridian.

Parallels, on the other hand, refer to lines of latitude that run parallel to the equator and help in measuring distances north or south of it. Degrees measure angular distances but are a broader term not specific to either longitude or latitude. Thus, longitude specifically captures the essential characteristic of these lines extending from pole to pole.