Which term means farther from the origin of a body part or the point of attachment of a limb to the body trunk?

• A. Proximal
• B. Medial
• C. Lateral
• D. Distal

Answer: (D)

Directional terms describe how far a structure is from the trunk or the point where a limb attaches. Farther from that origin is called distal. This means parts farther along the limb away from the trunk, like the fingers being distal to the wrist or the toes distal to the ankle. Proximal would be closer to the trunk, while medial and lateral describe position relative to the body's midline rather than distance from the trunk. Distal, then, is the correct term for being farther from the origin.