peripherally

Peripherally is an adverb derived from the adjective peripheral. It describes something related to or located at the edge or outer boundary of a structure, system, or context, or performed in a manner that is not central to the main subject. The term can refer to spatial relationships, distribution patterns, emphasis, or methods that lie away from the core.

Etymology: The word derives from peripheral, which itself comes from the Greek peri- around and pherein to carry; the suffix -ly forms the adverb.

Usage: In medicine and biology, peripherally is common for procedures and anatomical descriptions. A peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) is a central venous catheter inserted through a peripheral vein. Metastases or infections may spread peripherally around an organ. In neuroanatomy, peripheral nerves lie outside the central nervous system and have peripherally located pathways.

In other domains, peripherally can describe components or influences that are not central to a system. For example, in computing, peripheral devices are connected to a host and operate peripherally rather than as an integral part of the core circuitry.

See also: peripheral, periphery, peripheral nervous system. The term is often contrasted with centrally or core when indicating location or emphasis at the center rather than the edge.