Distal
Distal: The more (or most) distant of two (or more) things. For example, the distal end of the femur (the thigh bone) is the end down by the knee; the end more distant from the torso. The distal bile duct is the far end of the cystic duct, the end away from the gallbladder. And the distal lymph node in a chain of nodes is the most distant one. The opposite of distal is proximal.
For a more complete listing of terms used in medicine for spatial orientation, please see the entry to “Anatomic Orientation Terms”.
Read Also:
- Distance healing
Distance healing: Healing in which people seek to help patients simply with the power of the mind. Distance healing can include anything from therapeutic touch — in which practitioners, without touching their patients, try to alter their energy fields — to praying for people who are ill. Distance healing is part of the practice of […]
- Distention
Distention: The state of being distended, enlarged, swollen from internal pressure. For example, on inhalation there is distention of the lungs due to the increased air pressure within the lungs. The word “distention” comes from a Latin root “tendere,” to extend. The word “tendon” comes from the same root.
- Distichiasis
Distichiasis: Double rows of eyelashes. The extra eyelashes grow from the Meibomian glands and may protrude into the cornea, producing severe corneal abrasions.
- Diuresis
Diuresis: The increased formation of urine by the kidney. See diuretic for more detail.
- Diuretic
Diuretic: Something that promotes the formation of urine by the kidney. All diuretics cause a person to ‘lose water,’ but they do so by diverse means, including inhibiting the kidney’s ability to reabsorb sodium, thus enhancing the loss of sodium and consequently water in the urine (loop diuretic); enhancing the excretion of both sodium and […]