Distal
In the medical field, "distal" is a term used to describe the location of a body part, injury, or condition relative to another reference point. It refers to something that is further away from the center of the body or the point of attachment. For example, your fingers are distal to your shoulder because they are further away from your body's core compared to your shoulder.
Understanding terms like "distal" is useful when doctors describe the location of pain, injuries, or medical conditions. For instance, when you hear or read about a "distal fracture" of a bone like the femur, it means the fracture is located at the end of the bone that is farther from the body's center.
In summary, the term "distal" helps medical professionals communicate where something is located on the body by identifying that it is further from the torso or a major point of attachment. This simple term helps provide a better, consistent understanding of the human body's layout.
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