Which statement describes the Dorsal Recumbent position?

• A. The patient lies flat on the back with knees bent and feet flat; used for examination of the rectum and vagina; drape diamond-shaped.
• B. The patient lies on the back with legs extended for abdominal palpation.
• C. The patient lies on the abdomen with knees bent; used for anorectal exam.
• D. The patient lies on the left side for kidney assessment.

Answer: (A)

Dorsal recumbent is a supine position where the patient lies on the back with the knees bent and the feet flat on the table. This setup exposes the perineal area and relaxes the abdominal muscles, making it easy to perform a vaginal or rectal examination. The diamond-shaped drape mentioned is a common way to preserve modesty while providing access to the necessary sites. Other positions described fit different exams: a flat supine position without knee flexion is used mainly for abdominal palpation; lying on the abdomen with knees bent is a prone position used for anorectal exams; and lying on the left side is a lateral decubitus position used for certain kidney assessments.