What it means
A limb of the body. The upper extremities are the arms, wrists and hands; the lower extremities are the legs, ankles and feet. Charting often uses "bilateral lower extremities" for both legs.
For the nurse
When checking a limb, compare both sides for color, warmth, pulses, movement, feeling and swelling. A cast or injured limb needs these checks often.
In a chart
"Bilateral lower extremities warm, pedal pulses 2+, no edema."
At a glance
| Abbreviations | BUE, BLE (bilateral upper and lower extremities); RUE, LUE, RLE, LLE (right and left upper and lower extremity) |
|---|---|
| Spanish | extremidad |
| Also written | extremities |
Related terms
edema
Swelling caused by extra fluid trapped in the body's tissues.
range of motion
How far a joint can move in each of its normal directions, and the exercises that move joints through it.
amputation
The removal of all or part of a limb or other body part, by surgery or by injury.
peripheral
At or toward the outer parts of the body, away from the center, such as the arms, legs, hands and feet.