Distal means situated away from the middle of the body, that is, further from the trunk or from the origin of a structure. The fingers lie distal to the wrist. The opposite term is proximal.
Latin distare = to be distant
away from the trunk, away from the centre of the body
distal
In dentistry, distal has a meaning of its own: there it denotes the tooth surface facing away from the midpoint of the dental arch, and its counterpart is called mesial.
That shows a basic rule of medical terminology: terms are precise, but they always have to be read within their own frame of reference.
Δωρεάν και χωρίς καμία δέσμευση.