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Definition
| body erect, head facing forward, arms by the sides with palms to the front; used as a standard anatomical position of reference |
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Definition
| on back with lower extremities flexed and rotated outward; used in application of obstetric forceps, vaginal and rectal examination, and bimanual palpatation |
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Definition
| head of the bed or examining table is raised about 18 inches or 46 cm; patient sitting up with knees also elevated |
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Definition
| on knees, thighs upright, head and upper part of chest resting on bed or examining table, arms crossed and above head; used in sigmoidoscopy, displacement of prolapsed uterus, rectal exams, and flushing of intestinal canal |
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Definition
| on back with lower extremities flexed and feet planted in stirrups; used in vaginal examination, Pap smear, vaginal operations, and diagnosis and treatment of diseases of the urethra and bladder |
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Term
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Definition
| sitting upright or erect; used for patients with dyspnea, shortness of breath (SOB) |
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Definition
| lying face downward; used in examination of the back, injections, and massage |
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Term
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Definition
| lying on the left side, right knee and thigh flexed well up above left leg that is slightly flexed, left arm behind the body, and right arm forward, flexed at elbow; used in examination of rectum, sigmoidoscopy, enema, and intrauterine irrigation after labor |
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Term
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Definition
| lying flat on back with face upward and arms at sides; used in examining the head, neck, chest, abdomen, and extremities in assessing vital signs |
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Term
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Definition
| body supine on a bed or examining table that is tilted at about a 45 degree angle with the head lower than the feet; used to displace abdominal organs during surgery and in treating cardiovascular shock; also called the "shock position" |
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