Body Positions

Body position terms are essential to communicate how the patient’s body is placed for any medical examination, surgery, diagnostic procedure, treatment, or recovery. The most common body positions are listed below along with descriptions and accompanying images.

Fowler position: semi-sitting position with slight elevation of the knees

Person in bed in a semi-sitting position with slight elevation of the knees.
Figure 2.3 Fowler’s Position. From Glynda Rees Doyle and Jodie Anita McCutcheon, 2015. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.

 

Lateral recumbent position: side lying; right and left precede the term to indicate the patient’s side

Person lying on left side with blue blanket between legs
Figure 2.4 Lateral Position. From Saltanat ebli, 2013. Image in the public domain.

 

Lithotomy position: lying on back with legs raised and feet in stirrups, both hips and knees flexed, and thighs abducted (away from the body) and externally rotated

Person lying on back with legs raised and feet in stirrups
Figure 2.5 Lithotomy Position. From Saltanat ebli, 2012. Image in the public domain.

 

Orthopneic position: sitting upright in a chair or in bed supported by pillows behind the back. Sometimes the patient tilts forward, resting on a pillow supported by an overbed table (also called orthopneic position).

Prone position: lying on abdomen, facing downward; head may be turned to one side; a.k.a. ventral recumbent

Person lying face down on their abdomen
Figure 2.6 Prone Position. From Saltanat ebli, 2013. Image in the public domain.

 

Recumbent position: lying down in any position; a.k.a. decubitus position

Semi-prone position: lying on side between a lateral and prone position with the upper knee drawn up toward the chest and the lower arm drawn behind parallel to the back. “Right” or “left” precedes the term to indicate the patient’s right or left side.

Supine position: lying on back, facing upward; a.k.a. dorsal recumbent position

Person lying on their back, facing upward
Figure 2.7 Supine Position. From Asanagi, 2012. Image in the public domain.

Trendelenburg position: lying on back with body tilted so that the head is lower than the feet

Person in a hospital bed lying on their back with their body tilted so that their head is lower than the feet.
Figure 2.8 Trendelenburg Position. From Glynda Rees Doyle and Jodie Anita McCutcheon, 2015. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.

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Medical Terminology: An Interactive Approach Copyright © 2022 by LOUIS: The Louisiana Library Network is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, except where otherwise noted.

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