In medicine, it refers to parts of the body further away from the center. For example, the hand is distal to the shoulder. The thumb is distal to the wrist. Distal is the opposite of proximal. Distal refers to distance, while proximal indicates proximity.
What does proximal mean in simple terms?
Definition of proximal
1 : situated close to : proximate. 2 : next to or nearest the point of attachment or origin, a central point, or the point of view especially : located toward the center of the body — compare distal.
What is distal in medical terms?
In medicine, refers to a part of the body that is farther away from the center of the body than another part. For example, the fingers are distal to the shoulder. The opposite is proximal.
What is superior in medical terms?
Superior or cranial – toward the head end of the body; upper (example, the hand is part of the superior extremity). Inferior or caudal – away from the head; lower (example, the foot is part of the inferior extremity).
What is anterior and posterior?
Anterior refers to the front of the human body when used to describe anatomy. The opposite of anterior is posterior, meaning the back of the human body. The term anterior is typically used in combination with other words that describe the location of a body part.
What is posterior in medical terms?
Listen to pronunciation. (pos-TEER-ee-er) In human anatomy, has to do with the back of a structure, or a structure found toward the back of the body.
What does lateral mean in medical terms?
Lateral means to the side of, or away from, the middle of the body.
What is dorsal anatomy?
On a human body, dorsal (i.e., posterior) refers to the back portion of the body, whereas ventral (i.e., anterior) refers to the front part of the body. The terms dorsal and ventral are also often used to describe the relative location of a body part.
Where is the proximal?
Proximal means nearer to the center (trunk of the body) or to the point of attachment to the body. If another reference point is given, such as the heart, the proximal point of another organ or extremity is the point closest to the heart, central rather than peripheral. Proximal is the opposite of distal.
Where is the posterior?
Posterior (or dorsal) Describes the back or direction toward the back of the body.
What is the meaning of the suffix in the term thoracic?
Suffix Definition: pertaining to. Definition: pertaining to the chest.
What does anterior mean in medical terms?
Listen to pronunciation. (an-TEER-ee-er) In human anatomy, has to do with the front of a structure, or a structure found toward the front of the body.
What is medial and lateral?
A lateral orientation is a position away from the midline of the body. For instance, the arms are lateral to the chest, and the ears are lateral to the head. A medial orientation is a position toward the midline of the body. An example of medial orientation is the eyes, which are medial to the ears on the head.
What divides the body into anterior and posterior?
The coronal plane (frontal or Y-X plane) divides the body into dorsal and ventral (back and front) portions. It also separates the anterior and posterior portions.
What is anterior biology?
(1) Situated before or in front; prior to. (2) Near or toward the head or forward end of a quadruped animal. (3) Toward the front plane of the body, especially of humans. (4) Toward the cephalic end of an embryo. Supplement.
What is the difference between proximal and superior?
As adjectives the difference between proximal and superior
is that proximal is (anatomy|geology) closer to the point of attachment or observation while superior is higher in quality.
What is ventral in medical terms?
Medical Definition of ventral
1 : of or relating to the belly : abdominal. 2a : being or located near, on, or toward the lower surface of an animal (as a quadruped) opposite the back or dorsal surface.
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