Anatomical position refers to the position of reference in which the subject is in the standing position, with feet together and palms of hands facing forward.
The anatomical position refers to a standardized method of observing or describing the human body in which the body is standing upright, facing forward, with arms at the sides and palms facing forward.
In psychology, the anatomical position is often used as a reference point for describing the location or orientation of different structures or regions within the brain. For example, the prefrontal cortex is located at the anterior end of the brain, while the occipital cortex is located at the posterior end.
Some examples of terms that use the anatomical position as a reference point include:
- Anterior/posterior: Refers to the front and back of the body or brain, respectively.
- Superior/inferior: Refers to the top and bottom of the body or brain, respectively.
- Medial/lateral: Refers to the middle and side of the body or brain, respectively.
- Proximal/distal: Refers to the structures that are closer to or further away from a particular reference point, such as the trunk of the body or the center of the brain.
Understanding the anatomical position and these related terms is essential for accurately describing the location and function of different structures within the body and brain.