ANATOMICAL POSITION Meaning and
Definition
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Anatomical position is a fundamental reference point used in anatomy and medicine to describe the orientation and relationship of various body structures and parts. It is an assumed posture that serves as a standard anatomical frame of reference when discussing body regions, anatomical directions, and movement.
The anatomical position involves standing upright with the feet parallel and flat on the ground, arms hanging loosely by the sides, and the palms facing forward. This position ensures that the body is aligned in a specific way, with certain standardized terms assigned to describe relative positions and movements accurately.
By establishing anatomical position as a reference point, medical professionals and anatomists can communicate more effectively and precisely. It allows for consistent and uniform descriptions of body structures, which is crucial for accurate diagnoses, surgical procedures, and medical research.
In this positioning, the body is divided into distinct regions, planes, and quadrants. Terms such as anterior (front), posterior (back), superior (upper), inferior (lower), medial (toward the midline), and lateral (away from the midline) are used to describe the relative positions of various body structures based on their relationship to the anatomical position.
Overall, the anatomical position provides a standardized starting point and language for the field of anatomy, allowing healthcare professionals to communicate and understand complex anatomical relationships efficiently.
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The erect position of the body with the arms at the side and supinated, the palms of the hands looking forward; the terms posterior, anterior, lateral, medial, etc., are applied to the parts as they stand related to each other and to the axis of the body when in this position.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
Common Misspellings for ANATOMICAL POSITION
- znatomical position
- snatomical position
- wnatomical position
- qnatomical position
- abatomical position
- amatomical position
- ajatomical position
- ahatomical position
- anztomical position
- anstomical position
- anwtomical position
- anqtomical position
- anaromical position
- anafomical position
- anagomical position
- anayomical position
- ana6omical position
- ana5omical position
- anatimical position
- anatkmical position
Etymology of ANATOMICAL POSITION
The word "anatomical" originates from the Greek word "anatome", which means "dissection" or "cutting up". The term "position" is derived from the Latin word "positio", which means "place" or "position". Therefore, the etymology of the term "anatomical position" suggests that it refers to the specific position or posture of the body used as a standard reference in anatomy through dissection or cutting up.
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