Proximally, as an adverb, is most commonly used in sentences that describe medical conditions. An example of this would be "the rash is proximally located on the lower body". Within a medical dictionary, this means that the rash is found close to the point of attachment or origin. It could also mean that something is located toward the centre of the body or to the end of the bone. The word 'proximal' can also be used in comparison to the medial or distal surfaces of a tooth. Within medicine, proximal is considered as the opposite to distal. In comparison, distal is used to describe something that is located at the furthest point of the body from the appendage. The appendages that the terms proximal and distal can be applied to include vertebrae fins and limbs as well as any structure that extends and can move away from the body.
To avoid confusion these terms can also be used when referring to appendages in other species. For example, the hair on mammals, feathers on birds and scales on fish. Labelling all of these appendages as points of proximality helps stop any uncertainty about the proximal directional axes. These, along with the distal and medial axes, allow for exact three dimensional descriptions to be made of location within any bilaterally symmetrical organism. These axes can be applied to both vertebrates and invertebrates.
In a more general sense, the terms 'proximally' and 'proximal' can be said to have the meanings of being next or nearest in space or time, immediately preceding or following in a series and very close or near. Sometimes the word 'proximal' is used as a less common word for 'approximate'. The etymology of the word dates back to the Late Latin 'proximare' which meant to draw near. This was derived from the Latin 'proximus', meaning next, which, in turn, came from 'prope' meaning near.
To avoid confusion these terms can also be used when referring to appendages in other species. For example, the hair on mammals, feathers on birds and scales on fish. Labelling all of these appendages as points of proximality helps stop any uncertainty about the proximal directional axes. These, along with the distal and medial axes, allow for exact three dimensional descriptions to be made of location within any bilaterally symmetrical organism. These axes can be applied to both vertebrates and invertebrates.
In a more general sense, the terms 'proximally' and 'proximal' can be said to have the meanings of being next or nearest in space or time, immediately preceding or following in a series and very close or near. Sometimes the word 'proximal' is used as a less common word for 'approximate'. The etymology of the word dates back to the Late Latin 'proximare' which meant to draw near. This was derived from the Latin 'proximus', meaning next, which, in turn, came from 'prope' meaning near.
