- Glossary of terms
- Proximal and distal
Proximal and distal
Near and far
The terms proximal and distal are used to describe the position of body parts relative to each other. Proximal describes the position of a body part that lies closer to the head, while distal describes the position of a body part that lies further away from it.
Example
The hand lies distal to the elbow. This means that the hand is further from the head than the elbow. The elbow, in turn, lies proximal to the hand.
These terms are mainly used by (para-)medical professionals, such as doctors and physiotherapists, to communicate more accurately about the location of an injury or problem. As a patient, you do not necessarily have to be familiar with these terms, but they can help you better understand a medical report.
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