Anatomical Position and Directional Terms - Anatomy and Physiology

The anatomical position (and the directional terms) is something you'll soon learn when you take a course in anatomy and physiology.

The anatomical position is a standing position, whereby the person looks forward. The arms are by the side, with the palms facing forward and the fingers extended with the thumbs pointing away from the body.


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You'll want to know this position, because this is the standard reference everyone uses when referring to anatomy or directional terms. If a patient has a wound on the anterior side of the left forearm, the anatomical position will ensure that you know that left is left and anterior is the front of the forearm.

The directional terms will also help you describe and locate structures. This video covers the following directional terms for anatomy and physiology:

• Superior (cranial) and inferior (caudal)
• Anterior (ventral) and Posterior (dorsal)
• Distal and proximal
• Superficial and deep
• Medial, lateral, and intermediate

Superior means above, inferior means below (toward or away from the head).

Anterior means toward the front, and posterior means toward the back.

Distal means away from the insertion point of the limb to the body, while proximal means close to the attachment point.

Superficial means close to the skin's surface, while deep means away from the surface.

Medial means close to the midline of the body, while lateral means away from the midline. Intermediate means "between" two structures.

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