a short summary of medical terms for directions and positions from chapter 5 of "Essential Medical Terminology"
317381133 | anterior | situated at or directed toward the front | |
317381134 | posterior | directed toward or situated towards the back | |
317381135 | cephalic | pertaining to the head, or the head end of the body | |
317381136 | caudal | situated toward the tail | |
317381137 | decubitus | the act of lying down; the position assumed in lying down | |
317381138 | eversion | a turning inside out; turning outward | |
317381139 | extension | the movement bringing the members of a limb into or toward a straight condition | |
317381140 | flexion | the act of bending or the condition of being bent | |
317381141 | Fowler's | the head of the patients bed is raised 18-20 inches above the level | |
317381142 | internal | situated or occurring within or on the inside | |
317381143 | external | situated or occurring on the outside | |
317381144 | knee-chest | the patient rests on his or her knees and chest | ![]() |
317381145 | lateral | midline of the body; pertaining to the side | |
317381146 | bilateral | having two sides, pertaining to both sides | |
317381147 | lithotomy | position it which the patient liest on his or her back, legs flexed on the thighs thighs flexed on the abdomen and abducted | |
317381148 | medial | situated toward the midline | |
317381149 | oblique | slanting; incline | |
317381150 | peripheral | an outward structure or surface; the portion of a system outside the central region | |
317381151 | proximal | toward the center or median line; the point of attachment or origin | |
317381152 | distal | remote; farther from any point of reference | |
317381153 | quadrant | one of four corresponding parts, or quarters, as of the surface of the abdomen or the field of vision | |
317381154 | recumbent | lying down | |
317381155 | rotation | the process of turning around an axis | |
317381156 | sims' | the patient lies on his or her left side and chest, the right knee and thigh drawn up, the left arm along the back | |
317381157 | sinistro | left; left side | |
317381158 | dextro | right; right side | |
317381159 | superior | situated above, or directed upward | |
317381160 | inferior | situated below, or directed downward | |
317381161 | supine | lying with the face upward or on the dorsal surface | |
317381162 | supination | the act of placing or lying on the back | |
317381163 | prone | lying face downward or on the ventral surface | |
317381164 | pronation | the act of assuming the prone position | |
317381165 | trans | through; across; beyond | |
317381166 | Trendelenburg's | the patient is supine on a surface inclined 45 degrees, the head lower than the legs | |
317381167 | upright | perpendicular; vertical; erect in carriage or posture |