position
(pŏ-zish'ŏn 
)
[L. positio, a placing]
- The place or arrangement in which something is put.
- The manner in which a body is arranged, as by the nurse or physician for examination.
- In obstetrics, the relationship of a selected fetal land mark to the maternal front or back, and on the right or left side.
SEE: table - Positions of Fetus in Utero; illus. ; presentation for illus.
abdominal p.Horizontal abdominal position.
anatomical p.The position assumed when a person is stand ing erect with arms at the sides, palms forward. SYN: orthograde position.
anteroposterior p.A radiographical examination position in which the central ray enters the front of the body and exits from the back.
antideformity p.Any of several postures that reduce edema and the shortening of ligaments and tendons caused by abnormal muscle tone, e.g., in patients with injuries or burns.
axial p.A radiographical examination position in which an image is obtained with the central ray entering the body at an angle.
Bonnet p.In inflammation of the hip joint, the flexion, abduction, and outward rotation of the thigh, which produces relief.
Brickner p.A method of obtaining traction, abduction, and external rotation of the shoulder by securing the patient's wrist to the head of the bed.
butterfly p.Frog-leg position.
centric p.The most posterior position of the mand ible in relation to the maxilla.
Variant: close-packed position
Of a joint, the position in which there is maximum congruency of the articular surfaces and joint stability is derived from the alignment of bones. This is the opposite of the maximum loose-packed position.decubitus p.The position of the patient on a flat surface. The exact position is indicated by which surface of the body is closest to the flat surface: in left or right lateral decubitus, the patient is flat on the left or right side, respectively; in dorsal or ventral decubitus, the patient is on the back or abdomen, respectively.
dorsal elevated p.A position in which the patient lies on the back with the head and shoulders elevated at an angle of 30° or more. It is employed in digital examination of genitalia and in bimanual examination of the vagina.
dorsal recumbent p.A position in which the patient lies on the back with the lower extremities moderately flexed and rotated outward. It is employed in the application of obstetrical forceps, repair of lesions following parturition, vaginal examination, and bimanual palpation.
dorsosacral p.Lithotomy position.
SEE: Elliot position.
en face p.In obstetrics, a position in which the mother and infant are face to face. This position encourages eye contact and is conducive to attachment.
English p.Left lateral recumbent position.
fetal p.The relationship of a specified bony land mark on the fetal presenting part to the quadrants of the maternal pelvis.
SEE: Fowler position; position for illus. (Fowler position).
frog-leg p.A body position used in physical examination to evaluate the genitals and perineum in which the patient lies on the back or sits on the buttocks, bends the knees, abducts the thighs, and draws the heels toward the pelvis. SYN: butterfly position..
functional p. of hand In making splints for the hand , the position in which the wrist is dorsiflexed 20 to 35°, a normal transverse arch is maintained, and the thumb is in abduction and opposition and aligned with the pads of the four fingers. Proximal interphalangeal joints are flexed 45 to 60°.
genucubital p.A position with the patient on the knees, thighs upright, body resting on elbows, head down on hand s. It is used when it is not possible to use the classic knee-chest position. SYN: knee-elbow position.
genupectoral p.A position with the patient on the knees, thighs upright, the head and upper part of the chest resting on the table, arms crossed above the head. It is employed in displacement of a prolapsed fundus, dislodgment of the impacted head of a fetus, management of transverse presentation, replacement of a retroverted uterus or displaced ovary, or flushing of the intestinal canal. SYN: knee-chest position.
SEE: position for illus.
gravity-dependent p.Placement of a limb so that its distal end is lower than the level of the heart. Gravity affects the fluids within the limb, drawing or retaining them to the distal aspect. When limbs, esp. injured limbs, are placed below the level of the heart, interstitial pressure is increased, encouraging the formation and retention of edema within the extremity.
head-down p.Trendelenburg position.
ABBR: HELP
A body posture that decreases the rate of heat loss when a person is immersed in water. It is an important component of aquatic safety. HELP protects the head, neck, chest, and groin from rapid heat loss and delays the onset of hypothermia. The position is assumed by floating on the back with the head and neck above the water line, the arms crossed on the chest, and the legs crossed with the knees drawn up toward the perineum. The body is sustained in a stable floating position in the water by a personal flotation device.horizontal p.A position in which the patient lies supine with feet extended. It is used in palpation, in auscultation of fetal heart, and in operative procedures.
horizontal abdominal p.1A position in which the patient lies flat on the abdomen with the feet extended. It is used in examination of the back and spinal column.2Face-down, prone position. SYN: abdominal position.
intercuspal p.Centric occlusion.
jackknife p.A position in which the patient lies on the back, shoulders elevated, legs flexed on thighs, thighs at right angles to the abdomen. It is used when introducing a urethral sound. SYN: reclining position.
knee-chest p.Genupectoral position.
SEE: position for illus.
knee-elbow p.Genucubital position.
lateral p.In radiology, a side-lying position, which allows the central ray to enter the upright side.
SEE: position for illus.
lateral sleeping p.Sleeping on either the left side of the body or the right, rather than prone or supine.
SEE: Sims position.
lawn-chair p.A colloquial term for a dorsal recumbent position with the hips and knees flexed slightly (5° to 10°).
left lateral recumbent p.A position employed in vaginal examination, with the patient lying on the left side, right knee and thigh drawn up. SYN: English position; obstetrical position.
lithotomy p.A surgical position used in gynecological, rectal, and urological procedures in which the patient lies on his or her back, thighs flexed on the abdomen, legs on thighs, thighs abducted. It is used in genital tract operations, vaginal hysterectomy, and the diagnosis and treatment of diseases of the urethra and bladder. SYN: dorsosacral position.
SEE: position for illus.
loose-packed p.The position of a joint where it is unlocked and free to move. SYN: open-packed position.
SEE: closed-packed position.
maximum loose-packed p.Of a joint, the position where maximum joint play occurs, where ligaments and capsule have the least amount of tension. SYN: resting position.
SEE: Noble position.
oblique p.In radiology, an alignment of the body between a lateral and an anteroposterior or posteroanterior position. The angle formed by the body surface and the image receptor may vary. The central ray enters the aspect of the body that is upright and facing away from the image receptor.
obstetrical p.Left lateral recumbent position.
open-packed p.Loose-packed position.
orthograde p.Anatomical position.
orthopneic p.The upright or nearly upright position of the upper trunk of a patient in a bed or chair. It facilitates breathing in those with congestive heart failure and some forms of pulmonary disease.
physiological rest p.In dentistry, the position of the mand ible at rest when the patient is sitting upright and the condyles are in an unstrained position. The jaw muscles are relaxed.SYN: rest position.
ABBR: PA position
In radiology, a position in which the central ray enters the posterior surface of the body and exits the anterior surface.prone p.A position in which the patient is lying face downward.
Placing patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) in the prone position for 12 or more hours a day improves oxygen levels and reduces mortality.
SEE: position for illus.
ABBR: POE
A position in which the body is lying face down with the upper trunk and head elevated, propped up by the arms, while the lower body is in contact with the supporting surface. The weight of the upper body rests on the elbows and forearms.This position, a component of the developmental sequence, is used in physical therapy to improve weight bearing and stability through the shoulder girdle. Elbow joint stability is not required, because the joint is not involved.
reclining p.Jackknife position.
recovery p.A position in which the patient is placed on the left side with the left arm moved aside and supported to allow for lung expansion and the right leg crossed over the left. This position affords the unconscious, breathing patient the best protection from airway occlusion or aspiration of fluids into the lungs.
rest p.Physiological rest position.
resting p.Maximum loose-packed position.
resting p. of hand In making splints for the hand , the position in which the forearm is midway between pronation and supination, the wrist is at 12 to 20° dorsiflexion, and the phalanges are slightly flexed. The thumb is in partial opposition and forward.
semi-Fowler p.A position in which the patient lies on the back with the trunk elevated at approx. 30°.
SEE: Fowler position.
SEE: position for illus.
SEE: Sims position; position for illus.
subtalar neutral p. of the foot The middle range of the subtalar joint with no pronation or supination measured. It is usually one third of the way from the fully everted position.
tangential p.In radiology, a position in which the central ray separates the images of anatomical parts by skimming between them.
SEE: under Trendelenburg, Friedrich.
tripod p.1A position that may be assumed during respiratory distress to facilitate the use of respiratory accessory muscles. The patient sits leaning forward, with hand s placed on the bed or a table with arms braced.2 In infancy, a sitting position in which the child supports himself or herself with the legs and hand s in front of the body.
unilateral recumbent p.1The position in which the patient lies on the right side, used in acute pleurisy, lobar pneumonia of the right side, and in a greatly enlarged liver.2The position in which the patient lies on left side, used in lobar pneumonia, pleurisy on the left side, and in large pericardial effusions.
SEE: position for illus.
SEE: Walcher position.