Plain English Meaning

Having to do with how your body senses where it is and how it is positioned. It's the 'seat-of-the-pants' feel that tells you whether you're sitting upright, leaning, or being pushed into your seat.

Full Definition

Relating to the position, alignment, and orientation of the body, particularly the sensations the body uses to detect that position. In aviation physiology, postural refers to the sense of body position derived from pressure on muscles, joints, skin, and the seat — one of the inputs the brain uses to judge orientation in space.

Context Anchor

Seen in discussions of spatial disorientation and the body sensations a pilot may feel while flying by instruments or in reduced visibility.

Derivation

From the Latin 'positura' meaning 'position' or 'posture,' through the same that gives us 'pose' and 'position.' Knowing this anchors the word: anything 'postural' is about body position and the sensations tied to it.