Using the term “Distal” in healthcare refers to a part of the body that is farther away from either the center of the body or another part of the body. For example, the elbow is distal to the shoulder, the hand distal to the elbow and the finger tips are the most distal.
Therapists also use the term to refer to the furthest end of a particular muscle or bone, such as the distal end of the biceps or distal end of the humerus bone.
The term distal is also used as a way to locate or identify a specific point in the body that can be used by a caregiver or other medical professional to administer treatment or injury. For instance “the spasm is located at the distal end of the particular muscle” or ” the pain is located just distally from fibular head (whatever that may be, right?).
In any case, having a better understanding of this term that you may hear when consulting with healthcare professionals keeps you in the loop!
Distal is similar to the term “Peripheral” and opposite the term “Proximal”