Anatomical terminology and thumbs facing outwards. Just as maps are normally oriented with north at the top, the standard body "map," or anatomical position, is that of the body standing upright, with the feet at shoulder width and parallel, toes forward. The upper limbs are held out to each side, and the palms of the hands face forward. Using the standard anatomical position reduces confusion. It means that regardless of the position of a body, the position of structures within it can be described without ambiguity. In terms of anatomy, the body is divided into regions. In the front, the trunk is
Ancient Egyptian anatomical studies the reign of the pharaoh, within which the book is known to have been written. Two individuals, Herophilus, and Erasistratus, both living within Alexandria and participating within the so-called School of Alexandria, both contributed to anatomical understanding and knowledge, as they began a practice of human dissection. Egyptian civilization was responsible for the advent of terms for external body parts, of all body parts practitioners were aware of, "metu", understood to refer to the heart, was central to ancient understandings of anatomy within relevant areas of Egypt. Knowledge of anatomical studies is drawn from papyri and ostraca, especially the Ebers,