Final answer:
In the anatomical position, the body is standing upright with the palms facing forward, making option 2 the correct position of the body in this stance. The thumbs point laterally, and the body is facing the observer, not backward.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the standard anatomical position, the correct position of the body is that it's standing upright, with feet at shoulder width and parallel, toes pointed forward. The upper limbs are extended to the sides, and most notably, the palms of the hands face forward. This indicates that option 2: 'Palms are facing forward' is true of the anatomical position. Contrary to option 3, the thumbs would be pointing away from the body because, with palms facing forward, the thumbs point laterally. As for option 1, while feet being shoulders-width apart is true, the specificity of the palm orientation in option 2 makes it the best answer about the position of the body in an anatomical stance. Option 4 is incorrect as the body is facing forward in the anatomical position.
The term 'anterior' is used to describe the front of the body or the direction toward the front of the body, such as the toes are anterior to the foot. In contrast, the term 'posterior' describes the back or direction toward the back of the body. Understanding these orientations is essential in fields like medicine, where precise descriptions of body parts are necessary for diagnosis and treatment.