Exam and Treatment Postitions

Question 1

Knee-chest Position

Answer 1

The patient is assisted into a kneeling position withe the buttocks elevated. The head and chest are on the table, and the arms are extended above the head and flexed at the elbow. This position facilitates examination of the rectum.

Question 2

Lithotomy Position

Answer 2

The patient is assisted into a supine (lying on the back) position. The legs are sharply flexed at the knees, and the feet are placed in stirrups. This position is used for vaginal examination and the Papanicolaou (pap) test.

Question 3

Dorsal Recumbent Position

Answer 3

The patient is assisted into a supine (lying on the back) position. The legs are sharply flexed at eat knees, and the feet are placed on the table. This position is used to examine the vagina and rectum in a female patient and the rectum in a male patient.

Question 4

Sims Position

Answer 4

The patient is assisted into a side-lying position on the left side. The left arm is placed behind the body, and right arm is moved forward and flexed at the elbow. Both legs are flexed at the knee, but the right leg is sharply flexed and positioned next to the left leg, which is slightly flexed. This position is used to examine the vagina and rectum in a female patient and the rectum in a male patient. Sims position is also used to administer an enema.

Question 5

Prone Position

Answer 5

The patient is assisted to lie flat on the abdomen with the head turned slightly to the side. The arms are extended above the head or alongside the body. Prone position is used toe examine the back, spine, and lower extremities.

Question 6

Fowler Position

Answer 6

The patient is assisted into a semisitting position. The head of the examination table is tiled to produce a 45-60 degree angle with the patient’s knees bent or not bent. An angle of 45 degrees or more is considered “high Fowler position”; an angle of approximately 30 degrees is considered “semi-Fowler position”. This position promotes lung expansion. It is used if the patient has difficulty breathing.

Question 7

Supine Postion

Answer 7

The patient is assisted to lie flat on the back with arms at the sides. This position is used to examine the chest, heart, abdomen the, and extremities. It is also used to examine the head and neck as well as in certain neurological reflex testing.

Question 8

Erect Standing Position

Answer 8

Aka “Anatomical Position” patient stands erect, eyes look straight ahead, the arms are at the sides of the body with the palms of the hand turned forward,a don the feet are parallel to one another and flat on the floor.

Patient may be instructed to bend over, walk, or move specific body part in a particular manner. May be used to determine patient’s level of coordination, strength, flexibility, balance, and range of motion.

Question 9

Trendelenburg’s Position

Answer 9

Patient is lying flat on the back, and the entire examination table is tilted withe the head of the table down. This position is used for therapeutic treatments, such as postural drainage in patients who have thick respiration secretions.
(Positions facilitates boosting a patient in bed)