Okuzeka
Anatomy & Physiology vocabulary · Body Regions and Directional Terms

Proximal

Meaning in anatomy & physiology, with examples

/ˈprɑːksɪməl/adjectiveCore term

In anatomy & physiology, proximal means: Closer to the point where a limb joins the trunk, or closer to the beginning of a structure. For example, the elbow is proximal to the wrist.

In Turkish: proksimal, gövdeye yakın

How it is used

Mainly used for the limbs (proximal femur, proximal phalanx), but also for tubes such as the gut or blood vessels, where it means nearer the start. The opposite is distal. Very common in fracture descriptions and surgical notes.

Example sentences

  1. The knee is proximal to the ankle.

  2. The X-ray showed a fracture of the proximal humerus.

Common collocations

  • proximal to
  • proximal end
  • proximal femur
  • proximal phalanx
  • proximally
  • distalFarther from the point where a limb joins the trunk, or farther from the beginning of a structure. For example, the fingers are distal to the wrist.
  • limbAn arm or a leg. In anatomy the arm is called the upper limb (shoulder to hand) and the leg is called the lower limb (hip to foot).
  • anatomical positionThe standard reference posture used to describe the body: standing upright, facing forward, arms at the sides with the palms facing forward, and feet together.

More terms: Body Regions and Directional Terms

Practise with graded reading

Reading at the right level is the fastest way to make new words stick. Pick free English books by level:

This page explains English vocabulary for learners. It is not medical advice.