Proximodistal

The proximodistal trend refers to the prenatal development from 5 months until birth when the fetus' body grows from the inside of the body outwards. The prefix 'proximo' means 'near' and -distal means 'far.' Prior to 5 months gestation, the trend is called "cephalocaudal" (meaning head to body) indicating the head develops before the body. In motor development, the term proximodistal indicates that the first motor skills developed are those of the central body with the peripheral body parts (like the arms and legs) developing later.