Distal (Lat. Distans - Distant)

Distal - more distant from the place from which the distance is determined.

For example, in anatomy, the distal end of a limb is the one that is farthest from the torso. So, the distal phalanx of the finger is the last, farthest from the base of the finger.

In medicine, the term "distal" is often used to describe the location of organs, tissues and cells relative to some reference point on the body. The distal part of the intestine is more distant from the stomach. The distal sections of the nerve fibers are the most distant from the neuron body.

Thus, distal always means “the most distant,” as opposed to proximal, which is “the closest.”

More distant from the place from which the distance is determined. Differentiation is the increasing specialization of cells and tissues in the process of individual development of the organism.

The distal part of the limb is located further from the body than the proximal part. For example, the hand is distal to the forearm.

Cell differentiation is essential in embryonic development. From identical embryonic cells, during the process of differentiation, various types of mature cells are formed - nerve, muscle and others.