FHIR Extensions Pack
5.4.0 - May 2026 International flag

FHIR Extensions Pack, published by HL7 International / FHIR Infrastructure. This guide is not an authorized publication; it is the continuous build for version 5.4.0 built by the FHIR (HL7® FHIR® Standard) CI Build. This version is based on the current content of https://github.com/HL7/fhir-extensions/ and changes regularly. See the Directory of published versions

Extension: Observation Structure Laterality

Official URL: http://hl7.org/fhir/StructureDefinition/observation-structureLaterality Version: 5.4.0
Standards status: Trial-use Maturity Level: 1 Responsible: HL7 International / Orders and Observations Computable Name: StructureLaterality
Other Identifiers: OID:2.16.840.1.113883.4.642.40.97.42.53

Indicates the laterality of the body structure. Only for use when laterality is needed to augment the Observation.bodySite in cases where the laterality is not expressed in the Observation.code and/or the use of BodyStructure will duplicate information for the anatomical structure. This extension is used with Observation.bodySite through FHIR R5. In FHIR R6 and later, the bodySite element is deprecated and replaced with the bodyStructure element with reference to BodyStructure, so this extension is no longer required.

Context of Use

This extension may be used on the following element(s)

Usage info

Usages:

  • This Extension is not used by any profiles in this Specification

You can also check for usages in the FHIR IG Statistics

Changes since version 5.3.0:

  • The data elements list has changed
  • One or more text definitions, invariants or bindings have changed (description, Extension)

    • Formal Views of Extension Content

    Description of Profiles, Differentials, Snapshots, and how the XML and JSON presentations work.

    This structure is derived from Extension

    Summary

    Simple Extension with the type CodeableConcept: Indicates the laterality of the body structure. Only for use when laterality is needed to augment the Observation.bodySite in cases where the laterality is not expressed in the Observation.code and/or the use of BodyStructure will duplicate information for the anatomical structure. This extension is used with Observation.bodySite through FHIR R5. In FHIR R6 and later, the bodySite element is deprecated and replaced with the bodyStructure element with reference to BodyStructure, so this extension is no longer required.

    Maturity: 1

    This structure is derived from Extension

    NameFlagsCard.TypeDescription & Constraints    Filter: doco
    Extension 0..1 Extension Laterality of the body structure
    Extension.extension 0..0 Extension
    Extension.url 1..1 uri "http://hl7.org/fhir/StructureDefinition/observation-structureLaterality"
    Extension.value[x] 1..1 CodeableConcept Value of extension
    Binding: StructureLateralityValueSet (extensible)

    doco Documentation for this format
    NameFlagsCard.TypeDescription & Constraints    Filter: doco
    Extension 0..1 Extension Laterality of the body structure
    Extension.id 0..1 id Unique id for inter-element referencing
    Extension.extension 0..0 Extension
    Slice: Unordered, Open by value:url

    Slicing Note: The rules on this element (including its children) apply to all the slices, but are not repeated in them
    Extension.url 1..1 uri "http://hl7.org/fhir/StructureDefinition/observation-structureLaterality"
    Extension.value[x] 1..1 CodeableConcept Value of extension
    Binding: StructureLateralityValueSet (extensible)

    doco Documentation for this format

    This structure is derived from Extension

    Summary

    Simple Extension with the type CodeableConcept: Indicates the laterality of the body structure. Only for use when laterality is needed to augment the Observation.bodySite in cases where the laterality is not expressed in the Observation.code and/or the use of BodyStructure will duplicate information for the anatomical structure. This extension is used with Observation.bodySite through FHIR R5. In FHIR R6 and later, the bodySite element is deprecated and replaced with the bodyStructure element with reference to BodyStructure, so this extension is no longer required.

    Maturity: 1

    Differential View

    This structure is derived from Extension

    NameFlagsCard.TypeDescription & Constraints    Filter: doco
    Extension 0..1 Extension Laterality of the body structure
    Extension.extension 0..0 Extension
    Extension.url 1..1 uri "http://hl7.org/fhir/StructureDefinition/observation-structureLaterality"
    Extension.value[x] 1..1 CodeableConcept Value of extension
    Binding: StructureLateralityValueSet (extensible)

    doco Documentation for this format

    Snapshot View

    NameFlagsCard.TypeDescription & Constraints    Filter: doco
    Extension 0..1 Extension Laterality of the body structure
    Extension.id 0..1 id Unique id for inter-element referencing
    Extension.extension 0..0 Extension
    Slice: Unordered, Open by value:url

    Slicing Note: The rules on this element (including its children) apply to all the slices, but are not repeated in them
    Extension.url 1..1 uri "http://hl7.org/fhir/StructureDefinition/observation-structureLaterality"
    Extension.value[x] 1..1 CodeableConcept Value of extension
    Binding: StructureLateralityValueSet (extensible)

    doco Documentation for this format

     

    Other representations of profile: CSV, Excel, Schematron

    Terminology Bindings

    Path Status Usage ValueSet Version Source
    Extension.value[x] Base extensible Structure Laterality Value Set 📦5.4.0 This IG

    Constraints

    Id Grade Path(s) Description Expression
    ele-1 error **ALL** elements All FHIR elements must have a @value or children hasValue() or (children().count() > id.count())
    ext-1 error **ALL** extensions Must have either extensions or value[x], not both extension.exists() != value.exists()

    R4B

    The extension is unchanged in R4B

    R4

    The extension is unchanged in R4

    R3

    The extension is unchanged in R3

    Search Parameters for this Extension

    (none found)