Question

A medical assistant is preparing a patient for a physical examination and is helping the patient into a dorsal recumbent position. The assistant should identify that this position is described by which of the following?

1) Sitting upright with the legs extended and feet supported in stirrups
2) Lying flat on the back with the knees flexed and feet resting flat on the table
3) Lying face down with the head turned to one side
4) Sitting with the back upright and legs crossed

Answer 1

The dorsal recumbent position is when a patient lies flat on their back with knees flexed, which is a supine orientation useful for various examinations.

Step-by-step explanation:

When preparing a patient for a physical examination, if a medical assistant positions the patient in a dorsal recumbent position, they should identify this position as the patient lying flat on the back with the knees flexed and feet resting flat on the table. According to medical terminology, this describes a supine orientation, where the person is facing up. The dorsal recumbent position is utilized for a variety of medical examinations and is different from a prone position which would have the person facing down, or the lithotomy position which involves sitting upright with the legs in stirrups.