The anatomical position is the standardized body posture used as a reference in anatomy to describe locations and directions on the human body clearly and consistently. In this position, the body is:
- Standing upright and facing forward
- Arms hanging at the sides with the palms facing forward (supinated)
- Legs straight and parallel, feet flat and facing forward
- Head and eyes directed straight ahead
This position serves as a universal frame of reference, ensuring that anatomical terms like anterior/posterior, superior/inferior, medial/lateral, proximal/distal have consistent meanings regardless of the body's actual posture
. For example, even if a person is lying down or in another posture, the heart is always described as posterior to the sternum based on the anatomical position. This eliminates confusion in communication across medical and scientific disciplines
. In summary, the anatomical position is the foundational reference posture in human anatomy where the body stands erect, facing forward, with arms at the sides and palms facing forward, and feet together or slightly apart
