A primitive concept that is a supertype of specified concept and is not a supertype of any other primitive concept that is a supertype or the specified concept. 

Notes

• All concepts except the root concept have at least one proximal primitive supertype concept. In many cases this is a top level hierarchy concept. However, in some case one or more intermediate primitive supertypes may exist between the top level concept and a defined concept.
• A concept's proximal primitive supertypes represent aspects of the meaning of that concept that are not formally defined by other axioms. 
• The chapter on Proximal primitive modeling in the SNOMED CT Editorial Guide explains the role of proximal primitive supertypes in modeling concepts.

Example

In  the concepts C, D, E and F have a single proximal primitive supertype B. While concept A is also primitive it is a supertype of B so it is not proximal. Similarly concepts H, J and N have a single proximal primitive supertype G. Concepts L and M have a single proximal primitive supertype I (G is not a proximal primitive for these concepts because it is a supertype of concept I). However, concept P has two proximal primitive concepts K and I as neither of these is a supertype of the other. 

Alternatives

• Proximal primitive parent

Related Links

• primitive concept
• supertype