Directional Terms + Patient Positioning

Question 1

superior

Answer 1

toward the head or above

Question 2

inferior

Answer 2

towards the feet or below

Question 3

anterior

Answer 3

front or in front of

Question 4

posterior

Answer 4

back or at the back of

Question 5

lateral

Answer 5

toward the side of the body, or away from the midline

Question 6

medial

Answer 6

toward the midline

Question 7

proximal

Answer 7

closer to the top of the limb

Question 8

distal

Answer 8

closer toward the bottom end of a limb

Question 9

supine

Answer 9

lying face upwards

Question 10

prone

Answer 10

lying face downwards

Question 11

recumbent

Answer 11

any position laying down

Question 12

trendelenburg position

Answer 12

head is placed lower than the feet

Question 13

fowlers position

Answer 13

knees up in chair

Question 14

supinate

Answer 14

up/outwards

Question 15

pronate

Answer 15

down/inwards

Question 16

adduction

Answer 16

toward the midline

Question 17

abduction

Answer 17

away from midline

Question 18

flexion

Answer 18

bending

Question 19

extension

Answer 19

lengthening distance

Question 20

medial

Answer 20

internal rotation

Question 21

lateral

Answer 21

external rotation

Question 22

eversion

Answer 22

rotating outwards from midline

Question 23

inversion

Answer 23

rotating inwards toward midline

Question 24

dorsal

Answer 24

back of

Question 25

circumduction

Answer 25

moving in a circular motion