Which term means nearer to the trunk of the body?

Which term means nearer to the trunk of the body?

• A. Proximal
• B. Pulmonary edema
• C. Posterior/Dorsal
• D. Pneumothorax

Answer: (A)

Proximal means nearer to the trunk of the body or the point of attachment of a limb. It describes a position that is closer to the body’s center, so, for example, the elbow is proximal to the wrist because it’s closer to where the arm attaches to the body. This is in contrast to distal, which means farther from the trunk. The other terms are different ideas. Pulmonary edema describes fluid buildup in the lungs, not a location on the body. Posterior or dorsal refers to being toward the back side of the body, not about how close something is to the trunk. Pneumothorax is air in the pleural space around the lungs, again not a directional term. So the term that means nearer to the trunk is proximal.

Proximal means nearer to the trunk of the body or the point of attachment of a limb. It describes a position that is closer to the body’s center, so, for example, the elbow is proximal to the wrist because it’s closer to where the arm attaches to the body. This is in contrast to distal, which means farther from the trunk.

The other terms are different ideas. Pulmonary edema describes fluid buildup in the lungs, not a location on the body. Posterior or dorsal refers to being toward the back side of the body, not about how close something is to the trunk. Pneumothorax is air in the pleural space around the lungs, again not a directional term.

So the term that means nearer to the trunk is proximal.