Skip navigation

Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock ( ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

URL of this page: //medlineplus.gov/ency/article/002273.htm

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.

Images

References

Taber's Medical Dictionary Online website. www.tabers.com/tabersonline. Accessed March 15, 2023.

Review Date 2/2/2023

Updated by: Linda J. Vorvick, MD, Clinical Professor, 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.