anatomical position
Last reviewed 01/2018
For the purpose of universal comparison, there is a standard position - the anatomical position - that the patient or cadaver theoretically has assumed. This allows consistent description of body parts in relation to each other.
This entails:
- spine straight, as when standing upright
- feet together
- head and eyes looking forward - anteriorly
- arms straight, adjacent to sides of body
- palms facing forward
- fingers extended
The body must always be visualised in, and relationships described from, this pose, even when lying on its back - supine - or front - prone.