Definition of distal
1 anatomy : situated away from the point of attachment or origin or a central point especially of the body — compare proximal the distal ends of the tibia and fibula
2 dentistry : of, relating to, or being the surface of a tooth that is next to the tooth behind it or that is farthest from the middle of the front of the jaw — compare mesial 2
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Origin and Etymology of distal
distant + -al
First Known Use: 1803
Other Anatomy Terms
Medical Dictionary
distal
playMedical Definition of distal
1: situated away from the point of attachment or origin or a central point: asa: located away from the center of the body the distal end of a bone—compare proximal 1ab: located away from the mesial plane of the body—compare mesial 2c: of, relating to, or being the surface of a tooth that is next to the following tooth counting from the middle of the front of the upper or lower jaw or that faces the back of the mouth in the case of the last tooth on each side—compare mesial 3, proximal 1b
2: physical or social rather than sensory—compare proximal 2
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See words that rhyme with distal Britannica English: Translation of distal for Arabic speakers
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