Which position refers to lying on one side of the body?

The lateral position refers to lying on one side of the body. This position is commonly used in various healthcare settings for patients who need to be in a side-lying position for comfort, to promote circulation, or to ease breathing. By lying on one side, the weight of the body is distributed differently compared to lying flat on the back or stomach, which can be beneficial for certain medical conditions or after surgery.

In contrast, the supine position involves lying on the back, which does not provide the side-on orientation that the lateral position does. The prone position refers to lying on the stomach, and sitting is a position where the person is upright, typically in a chair. Each of these positions serves specific purposes, but for the question regarding lying on one side, the lateral position is indeed the correct response.