Question

1. a pregnant patient in her third trimester should avoid lying in the ______ position for extended periods, as this can compress major blood vessels

Explanation:

In pregnancy, especially the third trimester, the supine (lying on the back) position is to be avoided for long as it can compress the vena cava and aorta (major blood vessels), affecting blood flow. So the missing term is "supine".

Answer:

supine