Which term describes closer to the surface?

• A. Deep
• B. Proximal
• C. Superficial
• D. Distal

Answer: (C)

In anatomy, depth terms relate to how near a structure is to the body's exterior. Superficial means near the surface, just under the skin or exterior layer. For example, superficial veins lie just beneath the skin. The opposite, deep, refers to structures farther from the surface and more embedded inside. Proximal and distal describe closeness to the limb’s attachment to the trunk or to a point of origin, not surface depth, so they don’t indicate how close something is to the exterior. So, the term that describes closer to the surface is superficial.