The terms 'Matrilineal' and 'Patrilineal' are associated with:

Line of descent

The terms 'Matrilineal' and 'Patrilineal' are primarily associated with Line of descent. They describe how an individual's lineage or kinship is traced through either the female line (matrilineal) or the male line (patrilineal). While these terms can also influence other aspects of social structure, including residence patterns, marriage rules, and family structure, their primary focus is on tracing ancestry.

The structure of the family can be studied both as a social institution in itself and also in its relationship to other social institutions of society. In itself a family can be defined as nuclear or extended. It can be male-headed or female-headed. The line of descent can be matrilineal or patrilineal.