DHO Chapter 21, 9th edition, Medical Assistant Skills

Horizontal Recumbent (Supine)

The patient lies flat on the back, face upward

Prone

the patient lies on the abdomen, with the legs together and the face turned to the side

Sims’ (left lateral)

The patient lies on their left side with the right leg bent up near the abdomen

Knee-chest

the patient rests their body weight on the knees and chest

Fowler’s

the patient lies on the back with the head elevated at one of several different angles

Lithotomy

The patient lies on the back with the feet in stirrups and knees flexed and separateddo

Dorsal recumbent

The patient lies on the back with the knees flexed and separated

Trendelenburg

The patient lies on the back with the head lower than the feet, or with both the head and feet inclined downward

Jackknife (proctologic)

the patient lies on the abdomen with both the head and legs inclined downward and the rectal area elevated

Visual acuity

ability to perceive and comprehend light rays

snellen charts

special charts that use letters or symbols in calibrated heights to check visual acuity

myopia

nearsightedness; defect in distant vision

hyperopia

farsightedness; defect in near vision

observation

to look at, watch, perceive, or notice

palpation

the act of using the hands to feel body parts during an examination

percussion

process of tapping various body parts during an examination

auscultation

process of listening for sounds in the body

cervical spatial (ayer blade)

wooden or plastic blade used to scrape cells from the cervix of the uterus

laryngeal mirror

instrument used to examine the larynx, or voice box, in the throat

ophthalmoscope

a lighted instrument used to examine the eye

otoscope

a lighted instrument used to examine the ear

percussion (reflex) hammer

instrument used to test tendon reflexes

sigmoidoscope

instrument used to examine the sigmoid colon, or lower part of the large intestine

speculum

instrument used to examine internal canals of the body

sphygmomanometer

instrument used to measure blood pressures

stethoscope

instrument used for listening to internal body sounds

tongue blade/depressor

a wood or plastic stick used to depress the tongue so the throat can be examined

turning fork

an instrument that has two prongs and is used to test hearing acuity

scalpels

instrument with a knife blade used to incise (cut) skin and tissue

surgical scissors

special scissors used to cut tissue

hemostats

instruments used to compress (clamp) blood vessels to stop bleeding

tissue forceps

an instrument with one or more fine points (teeth) at the tips of blades used to grasp tissue

splinter forceps

instruments with fine-pointed ends used to remove splinters and foreign objects from the skin and/or tissues

towel clamps

instruments with pointed ends that lock together; used to attach surgical drapes to each other and/or clamp dissected tissue

retractors

instruments used to hold or draw back the lips or sides of a wound or incision

sutures

surgical stitches used to join the enges of an incision or wound

needle holder

instrument used to hold or support a needle while sutures (stitches) are being inserted

bandage scissors

special scissors with a blunt lower ends used to remove dressing and bandages

suture removal sets

sets of instruments, including suture scissors and thumb forceps

electrocardiogram (ECG)

graphic tracing of the electrical activity of the heart

medication

drug used to treat or prevent a disease or condition

Physician’s Desk Reference (PDR)

reference book that contains essential information on medications