Which term would describe a structure closer to the shoulder than to the hand?

• A. distal
• B. proximal
• C. inferior
• D. posterior

Answer: (B)

Understanding directional terms: proximal means closer to the point where the limb attaches to the body (the trunk). The shoulder is the attachment point for the upper limb, while the hand is farther away along the arm. So a structure nearer to the shoulder than to the hand is proximal. Distal would be farther from the trunk (toward the hand), while inferior means lower in a vertical sense and posterior means toward the back; neither describes closeness to the trunk. Hence, proximal is the correct term.