How would you define a position closer to the point of attachment of a limb to the body?

Proximal is defined as a position that is closer to the point of attachment of a limb to the body. This term is commonly used in anatomy to describe the relationship between different parts of limbs or organs. For example, if discussing the arm, the shoulder can be described as proximal to the elbow because it is closer to where the arm attaches to the torso. Understanding this terminology is crucial for accurately describing locations and movements in the human body, especially when communicating in medical or anatomical contexts.

In contrast, other terms outline different spatial relationships. Distal refers to being further from the point of attachment, while medial and lateral describe positions relative to the midline of the body, with medial being closer to the midline and lateral being farther away. Each term plays a specific role in directional anatomy, but in this case, proximal accurately conveys the idea of closeness to a point of limb attachment.