Which term indicates farther from the origin of a body part or the point of attachment of a limb to the body trunk?

• A. Distal
• B. Proximal
• C. Superficial
• D. Deep

Answer: (A)

Distal describes a point that is farther from the origin of a body part or from the point where a limb attaches to the trunk. Along a limb, as you move away from the torso toward the end of the limb, you’re getting more distal. By contrast, proximal means closer to the trunk or point of attachment. For example, the fingers are distal to the wrist, and the toes are distal to the ankle, while the thigh is proximal to the knee. Superficial and deep discuss how close something is to the surface, with superficial being nearer the surface and deep being farther from it. So, when the question asks for the term indicating farther from the origin or attachment, distal is the right choice.