In what position is a person lying on their left side?

When a person is lying on their left side, they are in the left lateral position. This term specifically describes a position where the individual is turned onto their left side, with their left arm and leg down and their right arm and leg positioned upwards.

Understanding body positions is fundamental in healthcare settings as it affects comfort, access for care, and can impact various medical situations. In contrast, supine refers to lying flat on the back, prone means lying flat on the stomach, and right lateral refers to being positioned on the right side. Each of these positions serves different purposes in clinical practice, but for the scenario of lying specifically on the left side, left lateral is the appropriate term.