Distaalinen

Distaalinen is a directional term used in anatomy and medicine to describe a location that is farther from a reference point, typically the trunk or the point of attachment of a limb. It is the counterpart to proksimaalinen (proximal), which describes structures closer to the trunk. Because the term is relative, the reference point must be specified; for limbs, the trunk is usually the standard reference, so distal means farther from the body center along the limb.

Examples of usage include the limbs, teeth, and some internal structures. The distal phalanx is the fingertip bone, distal to the middle and proximal phalanges. In the leg, the foot is distal to the knee, and the distal tibia is nearer the ankle. In the digestive tract, the distal ileum is farther along the tract toward the colon, while the proximal ileum lies closer to the stomach. In dentistry, the distal surface of a tooth is the surface away from the midline of the dental arch; the mesial surface faces toward the midline.

In vascular and nervous system contexts, distal can describe structures farther from the heart or brain relative to a given point, while proximal describes structures nearer to these centers. The term remains a standard part of clinical language, but its meaning depends on clearly stated reference points.

Notes: Distal is primarily used for limbs and structures with a defined longitudinal axis. Its applicability outside that context can be limited and should be specified to avoid ambiguity.