MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia: Distal

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Distal

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Definition

Definition

Distal refers to sites located away from the center or midline of the body. The hand is distal to the shoulder. The thumb is distal to the wrist.

Update Date: 5/17/2003

Updated by: Bridget Martell, M.D., Department of Internal Medicine, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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