Directions and positions

Question 1

anterior

Answer 1

situated at or directed toward the front

Question 2

posterior

Answer 2

directed toward or situated at the back

Question 3

cephalic

Answer 3

pertaining to the head or head end of the body

Question 4

caudal

Answer 4

situated toward the tail

Question 5

decubitus

Answer 5

the act of lying down, the position assumed when lying down

Question 6

eversion

Answer 6

a turning inside out; turn outward

Question 7

extension

Answer 7

movement of bringing the members of a limb into or toward a straight condition

Question 8

flexion

Answer 8

the act of bending or the condition of being bent

Question 9

Fowler’s

Answer 9

the head of the bed is raised 18-20 inches above level

Question 10

internal

Answer 10

situated or occurring within or on the inside

Question 11

external

Answer 11

situated or occurring on the outside

Question 12

knee-chest

Answer 12

the patient rests on his.her knees and chest; head is turned to one side, and arms are extended on the bed, elbows flexed and resting so that they partially bear the weight of the patient

Question 13

lateral

Answer 13

situated away from the midline of the body, pertaining to the side

Question 14

bilateral

Answer 14

having two sides; pertaining to two sides

Question 15

lithotomy

Answer 15

position where the patient lies on his or her back, legs flexed on the thighs, thighs flexed on the abdomen and abducted

Question 16

medial

Answer 16

situated toward the midline

Question 17

oblique

Answer 17

slanting, incline

Question 18

peripheral

Answer 18

outward structure or surface; portion of a system outside the central region

Question 19

proximal

Answer 19

toward the center or median line; the point of attachment or origin

Question 20

distal

Answer 20

remote; farther from any point of reference

Question 21

quadrant

Answer 21

one of four corresponding parts, or quarters, as of the surface of the abdomen or the field of vision

Question 22

recumbent

Answer 22

lying down

Question 23

rotation

Answer 23

turning around an axis

Question 24

Sims’

Answer 24

patient lies on his/her left side and chest, the right knee and thigh drawn up, the left arm along the back

Question 25

Sinistro

Answer 25

left; left side

Question 26

Dextro

Answer 26

right, right side

Question 27

superior

Answer 27

situated above, or directed upward

Question 28

inferior

Answer 28

situated below, or directed downward

Question 29

supine

Answer 29

lying with the face upward or on the dorsal surface

Question 30

supination

Answer 30

the act of placing or lying on the back

Question 31

prone

Answer 31

lying face downward or on the ventral surface

Question 32

pronation

Answer 32

the act of assuming the prone position

Question 33

trans

Answer 33

through, across, beyond

Question 34

Trendelenburg’s

Answer 34

patient is supine on a surface inclined 45 degrees, the head lower than the legs

Question 35

upright

Answer 35

perpendicular, vertical, erect in carriage or posture