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Peripheral

Peripheral means "away from the center." It refers to areas away from the center of the body or a body part.

For example, the hands are peripheral to the shoulder. The toes are peripheral to the knees.

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References

Taber's Cyclopedic Medical Dictionary. 24th ed. Philadelphia, PA: F.A. Davis Company; 2021. www.tabers.com/tabersonline/view/Tabers-Dictionary/760005/all/peripheral. Accessed December 16, 2024.

Review Date 1/1/2025

Updated by: Linda J. Vorvick, MD, Clinical Professor Emeritus, Department of Family Medicine, UW Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.