Obstetrics and Gynecology - A.M. Gromova 2000

Diagnosis of pregnancy. Monitoring its course
Obstetric terminology

Precise knowledge of the fetal position within the Uterus is of paramount importance in practical obstetrics. It is achieved through an examination of the pregnant woman in late gestation, making it possible to determine the fetal attitude, lie, presentation, position, and variety.

Fetal attitude (habitus) refers to The Relationship of the fetus's limbs and HEAD to its trunk. In the most favorable attitude, the spine is slightly flexed, causing the back to arch outward, the head is flexed with the chin brought close to the chest, the legs are flexed at the Hip and knee joints, crossed, and pressed against the lower abdomen, and the arms are flexed at the elbows and crossed over the chest.

Fetal lie (situs) refers to the relationship between the long axis of the fetus and the long axis (longitudinal diameter) of the uterus. The fetal axis is an imaginary line passing from the occiput to the buttocks. The following variants of fetal lie may occur:

- the fetal axis coincides with the long axis of the uterus — longitudinal lie (situs longitudinalis), observed in 99% of cases;

- the fetal axis intersects the long axis of the uterus — transverse lie (situs transversus) or oblique fetal lie (situs obliquus).

Fetal position (positio) refers to the relationship of the fetal back to the left (1st position, 2/3 of cases) or right (2nd position, 1/3 of cases) uterine wall. In transverse lie, the position is determined by the Location OF THE head.

Variety of position (visus) is the relationship of the fetal back to the anterior or posterior uterine wall. In the anterior variety, the fetal back faces the anterior uterine wall, whereas in the posterior variety, it faces the posterior wall.

Fetal presentation (presentatio) refers to the relationship of the lowest-lying major part of the fetus to the pelvic inlet (cephalic or breech presentation).

The aforementioned data regarding fetal positioning within the uterine cavity occur in A wide variety of combinations.



Last update: 08/08/2026

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