Medical Terminology: Body Positions and Diagnostic Imaging

Flashcards covering key terms for body positions, diagnostic imaging procedures, and related abbreviations from the lecture notes.

lateral position

lying on one side with knees bent; right and left precede the term to indicate the patient's side (also called side-lying position and lateral recumbent position)

lithotomy position

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

orthopnea 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)

Orthopnea

built from the combining form orth/o meaning straight and the suffix -pnea meaning breathing. Patients who need to sit up straight to breathe are placed in the orthopnea position.

prone position

lying on abdomen, facing downward; head may be turned to one side; also called ventral recumbent position

recumbent position

lying down in any position (also called decubitus position)

semirecumbent position

indicates the patient is lying down with the head of the bed raised to a 45° angle. Used in critical care to prevent ventilator-associated pneumonia.

semiprone position

lying on one 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' precede the term to indicate the patient's right or left side.

sitting position

bed position with head of the bed elevated at an angle between 15° and 90° and with slight elevation of the knees (also called Fowler position and semisitting position)

Fowler Position

indicates the head of the bed is raised between 15° and 90°. Variations in the angle are denoted by high, indicating an upright position at approximately 90°; standard, indicating an angle between 45° and 60°; semi, 30° to 45°; and low, in which the head is slightly elevated between 15° and 30°.

supine position

lying on back, facing upward (also called dorsal recumbent position)

Trendelenburg position

lying on back with body tilted so that the head is lower than the feet; used less often due to risks that include increased pressure within the eyes (intraocular) and within the skull (intracranial)

Modified Trendelenburg position

the torso is flat with the legs raised

Reverse Trendelenburg position

the body is tilted so that the feet are lower than the head

radiograph

record of x-rays (also called x-ray)

radiography

process of recording x-rays (also called x-ray)

radiologist

physician who specializes in x-rays (specifically the diagnosis and treatment of disease using medical imaging such as x-rays, computed tomography [CT], magnetic resonance imaging (MRI], nuclear medicine [NM], and sonography)

Interventional Radiologists (IRS)

board-certified physicians who guide targeted treatment of disease, including cancer, vascular abnormalities, and reproductive conditions, using diagnostic imaging.

radiology

a branch of medicine concerned with the study and application of imaging technology, including x-ray, computed tomography [CT], magnetic resonance imaging (MRI], nuclear medicine [NM], and sonography to diagnose and treat disease

sonogram

record of sound

sonography

process of recording sound (also called ultrasonography [US])

tomography

process of recording slices (anatomical cross sections)

computed tomography (CT)

imaging modality that combines x-rays with computer technology to produce detailed, cross-sectional images of the body, called 'slices.' Oral or intravenous contrast materials may be given to highlight specific regions in the body.

fluoroscopy

imaging of moving body structures, like an x-ray movie. An x-ray beam is passed through the body part being studied, and then the image is transmitted to a monitor in real time so that movement can be seen in detail. Contrast materials are used to help identify and assess the function of different structures.

nuclear medicine (NM)

imaging of internal structures using a Gamma camera to detect radiation from different parts of the body after a radioactive material (radioisotope) has been given to the patient

magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)

high-strength, computer-controlled magnetic fields producing a series of sectional images (slices) that visualize abnormalities such as swelling, infections, tumors, and herniated disks. Contrast materials may be administered.

scan

image obtained from diagnostic imaging procedures where data from several angles or sections have been combined; often scans are generated with the use of radioactive materials administered to the patient. Scans are generated by many diagnostic imaging procedures, including but not limited to nuclear medicine, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging.

ant

anterior

AP

anteroposterior

inf

inferior

lat

lateral

med

medial

PA

posteroanterior

sup

superior

CT

computed tomography

MR

magnetic resonance

MRI

magnetic resonance imaging

NM

nuclear medicine

US

ultrasonography

LLQ

left lower quadrant

LUQ

left upper quadrant

RLQ

right lower quadrant

RUQ

right upper quadrant