Which term means distant from the center?

• A. Equilibrium
• B. Dysfunction
• C. Distal
• D. Diagnosis

Answer: (C)

Distal describes being farther from the center of the body or from the point of attachment of a limb. It’s the opposite of proximal, which means closer to the center. In practice, you’d say the hand is distal to the shoulder, the knee is distal to the hip, and the fingers are distal to the wrist.

The other terms are not about distance from the center. Equilibrium means a state of balance, dysfunction refers to impaired function, and diagnosis is identifying a disease or condition.