Anatomical Position - Online Tutor, Practice Problems & Exam Prep

Understanding anatomical position is crucial for clear communication in anatomy and medical practice. The anatomical position is defined as the body standing upright, facing forward, with feet shoulder-width apart, arms at the sides, and palms facing forward. This standard reference eliminates confusion regarding left and right, as all terms refer to the body's perspective. For instance, an incision on the left refers to the left side of the body, not the observer's left. Mastery of this position is essential for accurate anatomical terminology and procedures.

Anatomical Position

So we've all had the experience where somebody says, "look to the left," and you're like, "wait, your left or my left?" We don't want that kind of confusion happening in the anatomy lab, and we definitely don't want that kind of confusion happening in the medical field. If somebody tells you to make an incision on the left, you want to be really clear. Is it your left? Is it the person who's talking to you? Is it their left? Is it the body's left? To get around that kind of confusion, in anatomy and physiology, we have a whole set of vocab terms that refer to the body, and all of those terms refer to the body in anatomical position. Now anatomical position is pretty straightforward. It's just this universally accepted position used for accurate communication.

And you can see it right here. This gentleman is standing in anatomical position. The basic idea behind it is that no matter what position the body is actually in when you're looking at it, referring to it, if it's laid out on a table, if it's standing up, if it's curled up in the fetal position, if it's a contortionist in the craziest handstand you've ever seen, when you talk about the body going forward and you talk about locations on the body, you are going to assume that the body is in this position. So anatomical position, pretty straightforward. The body is upright, standing up.

It's facing forward. Those feet are going to be about hip or shoulder distance apart. The toes will point forward. The arms are by the side. And then the one thing that's a little bit unnatural about this position is that the hands are rotated so the palms are forward.

In anatomical position, you want to be able to see the palms. The thumbs will be facing outwards just like this, and you'll be able to see the inside of the elbow there. Now going forward in this course, whenever you're trying to locate something on the body, you want to talk about it as if the body is in this position, and all the terms are going to refer to the body. So left and right are going to refer to the body's left and right. So if we're looking at this body, the body's left is on this side, and the right is on that side.

That can sometimes be a little confusing because you're looking at the body often, and so quite often it's opposite to you. But having that common reference frame is going to really eliminate a ton of confusion going forward. So now you know. If somebody asks you to make an incision on the left, you make an incision on the left side of the body.

Anatomical Position Example 1

This example asks us which image represents correct anatomical position and if the body is not in anatomical position to identify why it isn't. So just a quick reminder, anatomical position is standing upright, feet shoulder width apart, looking forward, arms by the side. Then the only thing to really remember about it is that those palms are rotated, so you can see the palms, the inside of the elbow, and so the thumb is facing outward away from the body. So with that in mind, let's look and see what we see. Alright.

A) Take a look and see if you see anything that means it's not in anatomical position. Alright. When I look at it right away, I see the head. The head is off to the side. That is not anatomical position, so I'm going to mark that right away. And I'm going to say A is definitely not in anatomical position. But let's just look at those other things that I always look for. I always look for the palms. Those palms are visible. Inside of the elbow is visible. That's good. And the feet. The feet are facing forward, shoulder-width apart. So everything else about this looks good, but that head to the side means that it's definitely not in anatomical position. Alright.

B) Take a look at B and see if you see anything. Alright. B, I see that the head is facing forward. The palms are forward. The feet are forward. Shoulder-width apart. This looks like a very good example of anatomical position to me, so I'm going to give it the big old green checkmark. I think that looks good. Alright.

C) Take a look at C and see if you see anything. All right. When I look at C, the first thing that jumps out at me is those hands. That's what I always think about for anatomical position. That's the one thing I said that's a little bit unnatural sometimes about anatomical position is the palms are facing forward. These palms are facing next to them, facing in sort of a more natural position, so I'm going to mark those as definitely not in anatomical position. The other things I look for: the head looks alright, and then I look down at the feet. Oh, and I notice something else here, right? Those feet aren't facing forward. They're sort of facing outwards in more of a ballet first position. So that's definitely not anatomical position. I'm going to mark that as well. And so C is not in anatomical position because of the hands and the feet. So to review, A and C are not in anatomical position for the reasons we've marked. B looks like a very good example of anatomical position.

Why is anatomical position important?

• A. To minimize medical errors.
• B. To give a reference position for directional terms.
• C. For easy communication among medical workers.
• D. A-C are all true.

If looking at a body in anatomical position from the back, which part can you see clearly?

• A. The inside of the elbow
• B. The fingernails
• C. The palms
• D. The toes

Here’s what students ask on this topic:

What is the anatomical position and why is it important?

The anatomical position is a universally accepted reference posture used in anatomy and medical fields to ensure clear communication. In this position, the body stands upright, faces forward, with feet shoulder-width apart, arms at the sides, and palms facing forward. This standard eliminates confusion regarding directional terms like left and right, as all terms refer to the body's perspective. For example, an incision on the left refers to the body's left side, not the observer's. Mastery of this position is essential for accurate anatomical terminology and procedures.

How does the anatomical position help in avoiding confusion in medical communication?

The anatomical position helps avoid confusion in medical communication by providing a consistent reference point. When the body is described in this position—standing upright, facing forward, with feet shoulder-width apart, arms at the sides, and palms facing forward—terms like left and right always refer to the body's perspective. This eliminates ambiguity, ensuring that instructions such as making an incision on the left are clearly understood as the body's left side, not the observer's. This clarity is crucial for accurate diagnosis, treatment, and communication among healthcare professionals.

What are the key features of the anatomical position?

The key features of the anatomical position include: the body standing upright, facing forward, feet shoulder-width apart, arms at the sides, and palms facing forward. The toes point forward, and the thumbs point outward, allowing the palms to be visible. This position serves as a standard reference for anatomical terminology, ensuring that directional terms like left and right are always based on the body's perspective, which is essential for clear and accurate communication in anatomy and medical practice.

Why are the palms facing forward in the anatomical position?

In the anatomical position, the palms face forward to provide a clear and consistent reference for anatomical terminology. This orientation allows for the visibility of the palms and the inside of the elbows, making it easier to describe the locations and relationships of structures in the body. By standardizing this position, it ensures that terms like anterior (front) and posterior (back) are unambiguous, facilitating accurate communication and understanding in anatomy and medical contexts.

How do left and right directions work in the anatomical position?

In the anatomical position, left and right directions refer to the body's perspective, not the observer's. This means that the left side of the body is always the body's left, regardless of the observer's viewpoint. This standardization eliminates confusion, ensuring that instructions and descriptions are clear and consistent. For example, if a medical professional is instructed to make an incision on the left, they will know it refers to the body's left side, which is crucial for accurate medical procedures and communication.