Position & Direction Flashcards
anterior
Positioned toward the front
ascending
Having an upward course
axillary
Commonly referred to as the underarm; the cavity beneath the junction of the arm and the body
descending
Having a downward course
distal
Farthest from the point of reference
inferior
Situated below; in reference to the lower surface or portion of an
organ or structure
lateral
Toward the side, farthest from the middle or median
medial
toward the middle
posterior
Positioned toward the back
proximal
Closest to the point of reference
superior
Situated above, in reference to the upper surface or portion of an
organ or structure
transverse
Having a lateral course; a feature or organ that proceeds across
lateral position
Patient lying on side
left or right
Lithotomy Position
Patient on back with legs up
in stirrups, flexed thighs at right angle to body exposing perineum, with head tilted
down slightly
prone
Patient lying on front,
face down
reverse Trendelenburg
Patient on back with feet
tilted down and head slightly
elevated
supine
Patient lying on back, face up
Trendelenburg
Patient on back with head
tilted downward 30-40 degrees and feet slightly
angulated downward beneath the knees
Parietal
pertaining to the walls of a cavity
Visceral
Pertaining to the organs within a cavitry
Viscera
The internal organs of the body, specifically those within the chest (heart or lungs) or abdomen (as the liver, pancreas or intestines).
Axillary Line
Imaginary line that runs down the body starting at the armpit
