What does 'distal' refer to in anatomical terms?

In anatomical terminology, 'distal' refers to a position that is further away from the trunk of the body or the point of attachment to the body. This term is often used to describe the location of parts of the limbs in relation to the closest point of attachment, which is typically the shoulder for the arms and the hip for the legs.

For example, in the context of the arm, the fingers are considered distal compared to the elbow, because they are farther away from the main body and the shoulder joint. Understanding this terminology is essential in fields like sports medicine and anatomy, as it helps in accurately describing the location of injuries, anatomical structures, or during physical assessments.