adjective

• 1Anatomy
  Situated away from the centre of the body or from the point of attachment.

  The opposite of proximal

  ‘the distal end of the tibia’

  More example sentences

  • ‘The stomach and small bowel were dilated due to there being colonic atresia just distal to the cecum.’
  • ‘Retinal prostheses are only viable if the visual pathway distal to the retina is intact and functional.’
  • ‘This disorder occurs because of median nerve entrapment distal to the elbow.’
  • ‘In the presence of an arterial stenosis, a reduction in pressure occurs distal to the lesion.’
  • ‘This section passes through the upper third of the forearm distal to the insertion of the arm muscles.’

  1. 1.1Geology Relating to or denoting the outer part of an area affected by geological activity.
     ‘the distal zone is characterized by pyroclastic flow deposits’
     More example sentences

     • ‘In distal areas, a layered sedimentary unit appears under the chaotic unit.’
     • ‘The spherules in South Greenland are the first distal impact ejecta recognized in mid-Precambrian strata.’
     • ‘Similar laminated deposits are formed in more distal periglacial lakes.’
     • ‘Wonoka units 4 and 5 include distal turbidites and are of relatively deep water origin.’
     • ‘These often overlie distal bayhead delta mouthbar facies, and commonly have a sharp erosive base.’