distal

[dis-tl]

adjective

1. situated away from the point of origin or attachment, as of a limb or bone; terminal.

2. Dentistry.,  directed away from the sagittal plane or midline of the face, along the dental arch.

distal

/ ˈdɪstəl /

adjective

1. anatomy (of a muscle, bone, limb, etc) situated farthest from the centre, median line, or point of attachment or origin Compare proximal

Other Word Forms

• distally adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of distal¹

First recorded in 1800–10; dist(ant) + -al ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of distal¹

C19: from _distant + _-al ¹

Example Sentences

This region is essential for communication between brain networks but is also vulnerable to reduced blood flow from distal arteries, which carry blood from the heart to the outermost parts of the body.

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For example, at a stage when immature cells start developing retinal cell characteristics, chromatin contact points shift from a mostly proximal-enriched state to add more distal interactions.

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The measurements were taken at the neurons' distal apical dendrites of the visual cortex, which receive top-down signals, and at their cell bodies, which receive bottom-up signals.

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Five seasons later — 163 tackles later, one scholarship later, one torn ACL later, one partial tear of his distal biceps tendon later, 16 consecutive missed games and multiple rehabs later — Ulofoshio is a leader.

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Boston manager Alex Cora announced the injury before Monday night’s game at Tampa Bay, saying the center fielder has a distal left wrist fracture.

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