Skip to main content

The Anatomical Position

This video presents the same text shown beside it, spoken and on screen. It adds nothing the text does not say.

State

The anatomical position is the body standing upright, facing forward, arms at the sides, palms turned forward.

Show

Every directional term describes a body in this position, whatever position the patient is actually in.

Watch for

Without this reference, left and right, front and back have no fixed meaning in a record.