Which term means closer to the point of attachment?

• A. proximal
• B. distal
• C. medial
• D. lateral

Answer: (A)

In anatomy, proximal means closer to the point of attachment to the body. It’s used mainly to describe limbs and parts relative to the trunk. For example, the elbow is proximal to the wrist because it’s nearer to where the forearm attaches to the upper arm and trunk. The thigh is proximal to the knee for the same reason.

Distal is the opposite—farther from the point of attachment. Medial and lateral describe position relative to the midline of the body: medial means toward the midline, while lateral means away from it.