Prone Position

Prone Position

• Patient lies on abdomen with hands at side, head turned to side
• Examination of the spine and legs
• Drape extends from shoulders to knees

Prone position is an anatomical term that indicates a face-down body position. It can refer to the position of the entire body, as in lying on one’s stomach, or to the position of a limb, as when the palm of the hand is turned face-down. In the case of the hand, to move into the prone position is to pronate. This term specifically refers to the rotation of the forearm that turns the hand face-down. The opposite of prone is supine, which describes the body as lying face-up or the forearm with the palm rotated face-up, or supinated.

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