Anatomical terms

Supine

The patient is lying face up on his back.

Prone

The patient is lying face down on his stomach.

Lateral recumbent position or recovery position

• The patient is lying on his left or right side.

• Be sure to place the patient on the side so that you can easily monitor the airway.

• Also, be careful not to allow excessive pressure on the chest that might impair the breathing status of the patient.

• To avoid possible injury from impaired blood flow to the lower arm, turn the patient to the opposite side if he is in the recovery position for greater than 30 minutes.

Fowler’s position

The patient is lying on his back with his upper body elevated at a 45° to 60° angle.

Semi-Fowler’s position.

The patient is lying on his back with the upper body elevated at an angle less than 45°.

Trendelenburg position.

The patient is lying on his back with the legs elevated higher than the head and body on an inclined plane (head down, legs up).

• No longer recommended

• The abdominal organs may be pushed up against the diaphragm, from gravity, and make breathing more difficult for the patient.

• It may also increase the pressure inside the skull in patients with a head injury

Shock position.

• This is an alternative to the Trendelenburg position, where only the feet and legs are elevated approximately 12 inches.

• Like the Trendelenburg position, the shock position is no longer recommended in the treatment of shock because there is no evidence that shows it is effective.

• This position might still be used for the patient who has suffered a simple faint (syncopal episode) or for the patient whose vessels are dilated, causing a decrease in blood pressure.

Sagittal plane.

• Runs lengthwise and divides the body into right and left segments. (not necessarily equal parts)

• Midsagittal = equal halves

Frontal plane or coronal plane

• divides the body into front and back halves.

Transverse plane or horizontal plane.

parallel with the ground and divides the body into upper and lower halves

Midline

• Corresponds with midsagittal plane

Midaxillary line

• line vertically from the middle of the patient’s armpit down to the ankle.

• Seperates body into anterior and posterior planes

Anterior

Towards the front

Superior

towards the head or above point of reference

Inferior

toward the feet or below the point of reference

Dorsal

Dorsal means toward the back or backbone (spine) (dorsum of hand and foot)

Ventral

toward the front or belly (abdomen).

Medial

Medial means toward the midline or center of the body.

lateral

the left or right of the midline, or away from the midline of the body.

proximal

near the point of reference.

distal

far from the point of reference

Midclavicular

center of each of the collarbones (clavicle).

Plantar

sole of the foot

Palmar

palm of the hand.

abdominal quadrants

• right upper quadrant (RUQ), right lower quadrant (RLQ), left upper quadrant (LUQ), and left lower quadrant (LLQ).

• divided by horizontal and vertical lines drawn through the umbilicus (navel)