Body Positions + other terms

Question 1

Decubitus

Answer 1

The act of lying down.

Question 2

Supine (Dorsal decubitus)

Answer 2

Lying down on the back. The patient is lying down on their back with the medial sagittal plane vertical, their legs extended, with arms extended by the side of the body.

Question 3

Prone (ventral decubitus)

Answer 3

Lying on the front (anterior) of the body. The patient is lying down on their front with the medial sagittal plane vertical, their legs extended, with arms extended by the side of the body.

Question 4

Lateral decubitus

Answer 4

Lying on the side of the body. Right lateral decubitus, patient is lying on their right side with left side raised.

Question 5

Protrusion

Answer 5

Located anteriorly to the normal position. When masticating, the mandible moves (is thrust) forward.

Question 6

Retrusion

Answer 6

Located posteriorly to the normal position, Backward movement of the mandible

Question 7

Elevation

Answer 7

Raised area or point - shoulders elevated when moved towards the head.

Question 8

Depression

Answer 8

A hollow, downward or inward displacement, e.g. fracture caused by a hammer – the bone is forced inward Lowering of function – decrease in blood pressure

Question 9

Parietal

Answer 9

Forming the outer wall of the body cavity e.g. ‘The parietal pleura is the outer layer of the pleural sac surrounding the lung’

Question 10

Visceral

Answer 10

Covering of an organ within the body cavity e.g. ‘The visceral pleura is the inner layer of the pleural sac that covers the surface of the lung’

Question 11

Dorsum

Answer 11

The back, posterior surface

Question 12

Cranial/
cephalic

Answer 12

Toward the head

Question 13

Caudal

Answer 13

Toward the feet

Question 14

Palmar

Answer 14

Palm of the hand

Question 15

Plantar

Answer 15

Sole of the foot