Bontrager Chapter 1: Terminology, Positioning

Long Bones

Consist of a body and two ends or extremities. Found only in the appendicular skeleton

Short Bones

are roughly cuboidal and are found only in the wrists and ankles. 8 carpal bones of wrist, 7 tarsal bones of ankle

Flat Bones

consist of two plates of compact bone with cancellous bone and bone marrow between them. Calvaria (skull cap), Sternum, ribs and scapulae are considered flat bones

Irregular Bones

Bones that have peculiar shapes. Vertebrae, facial bones, bones of the base of the cranium, bones of the pelvis.

Synarthrosis

Immovable Joint

Amphiarthrosis

Joint with limited movement

Diarthrosis

Freely movable joint

Sthenic

Approximately 50% of the population falls into this category. These body styles are considered average in shape and internal organ location

Hyposthenic

A thin body style, which is more slender than the sthenic body habitus. Approximately 35% of the population is classified this body style.

Hypersthenic

A massive body style, which has a large and broad frame as compared to the sthenic body habitus. Approximately 5% of the population has this body style.

Asthenic

Approximately 10% of the population is very thin or slender with a long and narrow body build.

Radiograph

An image of a patient's anatomic part(s), as produced by the action of x-rays on an image receptor.

Radiography

The process and procedures of producing a radiograph

X-ray Film

specifically refers to the physical piece of material on which a latent (nonprocessed) radiographic image is stored.

Image Receptor (IR)

The device that captures the radiographic image that exits the patient; refers to both film-screen cassettes and digital acquisition devices.

Central Ray (CR)

Refers to the centermost portion of the x-ray beam emitted from the x-ray tube - the portion of the x-ray beam that has the least divergence.

Viewing Radiographs

display them so that the patient is facing the viewer, with the patient in the anatomic position

Sagittal Plane

Plane is any longitudinal plane that divides the body into right and left parts

Coronal Plane

is any longitudinal plane that divides the body into anterior and posterior parts

Midcoronal Plane

divides the body into approximately equal anterior and posterior parts

Midsagittal Plane

sometimes called the median plane, is a midline sagittal plane that divides the body into equal right and left parts

Horizontal (Axial) Plane

is any transverse plane that passes through the body at right angles to a longitudinal plane, dividing the body into superior and inferior parts.

Oblique Plane

is a longitudinal or transverse plane that is at an angle or slant and is not parallel to the sagittal, coronal, or horizontal plane.

Longitudinal Sections (Sagittal, Coronal, and Oblique)

These sections or images run lengthwise in the direction of the long axis of the body or any of its parts, regardless of the position of the body (erect or recumbent)

Transverse or Axial

Sectional Images are at right angles along any point of the longitudinal axis of the body or its parts.

Posterior

or Dorsal refers to the back half of the patient. part of the body seen when the person is viewed from the back; includes the bottoms of the feet and the backs of the hands as demonstrated in the anatomic position.

Anterior

or Ventral refers to front half of the patient, includes the tops of the feet and the fronts or palms of the hands in the anatomic position.

Plantar

refers to the sole or posterior surface of the foot.

Foot Dorsal

refers to the top or anterior surface if the foot (dorsum pedis)

Hand Dorsal

refers to the back or posterior aspect of the hand. (dorsum manus)

Projection

is a positioning term that describes the direction or path of the CR of the x-ray beam as it passes through the patient, projecting an image onto the IR.

PA Projection

refers to a projection of the CR from posterior to anterior. The CR enters at the posterior surface and exits at the anterior surface.

AP Projection

refers to a projection of CR from anterior to posterior Describes the direction of travel of the CR, which enters at an anterior surface and exits at a posterior surface.

Supine

lying on back, facing upward

Prone

lying on abdomen, facing downward

Erect

an upright position, to stand or sit

Recumbent

lying down in any position (prone, supine or on side)

Dorsal Recumbent

Lying on back (supine)

Ventral Recumbent

Lying face down (prone)

Lateral Recumbent

Lying on side (right or left lateral)

Trendelenburg

A recumbent position with the body tilted with the head higher than the feet

Fowler

A recumbent position with the body tilted, with the head higher than the feet

Sims Position

A recumbent oblique position with the patient lying on the left anterior side with the right knee and thigh flexed and the left arm extended down behind the back

Modified Sims Position

position used for insertion of the rectal tube for barium enema.

Lithotomy

A recumbent (supine) position with knees and hip flexed and thighs abducted and rotated externally, supported by ankle supports.

Lateral Position

refers to the side of, or side view. Specific Lateral positions described by the part closest to the IR or the body part from which the CR exits

Erect LPO Position

Recumbent LPO Position

Erect RAO Position

Recumbent RAO Position

Recumbent L Lateral Position

Erect R Lateral Position

Right lateral decubitus Position

(PA Projection)

Dorsal decubitus position

(L Lateral projection)

Left Lateral decubitus position

(AP Projection)

Ventral Decubitus Position

(R Lateral projection)

AP Lordotic Chest Position

comes from lordosis, a term that denotes curvature of the cervical and lumbar spine.

Tangential Projection

means touching a curve or surface at only one point. Describes the CR that skims a body part to project the anatomy into profile and free of superimposition of surrounding body structures.

Dorsoplantar Projections

Describes the path of the CR from the dorsal (anterior) surface to the plantar (posterior) surface of the foot.

Plantodorsal Projections

A special plantodorsal projection of the heel bone (calcaneous) axial plantodorsal projection (PD) because the angled CR enters the plantar surface of the foot and exits the dorsal surface.

Decubitus

literally means to "lie down" or position assumed in "lying down" lie on a horizontal surface is designated according to the surface on which the body is resting