Radiology positioning Study guide ♡

Distal (Di)

situated away from the point of attachment or origin

Proximal (Pr)

situated closer to the point of attachment or origin

Plantar (Pl)

situated on the caudal aspect of the rear limb, distal to the tarsus

Palmar (Pa)

situated on the caudal aspect of the front limb, distal to the carpus

Rostral (R)

areas on the head situated toward the nose

Caudal (Cd)

structures or areas situated toward the tail

Rostral border lateral skull

tip of nose

Caudal border lateral skull

Occipital protuberance

Cranial (Cr)

structures or areas situated toward the head

Lateral (L)

body area situated away from the median plane or midline

Medial (M)

body area situated toward the median plan or midline

Ventral (V)

body area situated toward the underside of quadrupeds

Dorsal (D)

body area situated toward the back or topline of quadrupeds

The first letter designates where the x-ray beam will ___.

enter

Second letter designates where beam ___.

exits

Medial and lateral should go ____ when used on combination with other terms

second

Rostral, cranial, and caudal should go____when used in combination with other terms

first

Oblique (O)

added to the names of the projections where the central beam passes through obliquely to one of the 3 axis

Caliper

is used to measure the area of interest

Caliper measuring

Measure at the thickest area

Measure standing and positioned on table if possible

Take average if needed

Caliper reading

Read measurements in cm

Read measurements at the bottom of the arm

Thoracic rads should be taken at full ____.

inspiration

Abdominal rads should be taken at ____.

expiration

thorax collimator borders caudal

just caudal to last rib (1st lumbar vertebrae)

thorax collimator borders cranial

thoracic inlet

pelvis collimator border cranial

slightly cranial to the wing of the ilium (include at least 1

lumbar vertebrae)

pelivis collimator border caudal

caudal to the caudal ischium, include 1/3 of the femur

Abdomen

Cranial border landmark:

half way between caudal border of scapula and xiphoid

(full diaphragm and heart apex)

Abdomen

Caudal border landmark:

coxofemoral joints

how many cervical vertebrae are there?

7

how many thoracic vertebrae are there?

13

how many lumbar vertebrae are there?

7

how many sacral vertebrae are there?

3

how many coccygeal vertebrae are there?

20-23

general collimator borders for joints

include 1/3 of long bone on each side

general collimator borders for long bones

include both joints on each end

Atelectasis

A complete or partial collapse of a lung or lobe of a lung that develops when the alveoli within the lung become deflated

Atelectasis causes

Post surgical complication

Recumbency related

Cancer

Trauma

Improperly placed ET tube

What organs can’t you see on an abdominal radiograph?

gallbladder, pancreas, adrenal glands

What organs can you see on an abdominal radiograph?

diaphragm, liver, stomach, spleen, kidneys, intestines, bladder, rectum

Forelimb Dorsal recumbency :

proximal portion (scapula, shoulder, humerus)

Forelimb Sternal recumbency :

distal portion (elbow, radius/ulna, carpus, metacarpus and digits)

Forelimb CdCr:

shoulder, scapula, humerus

Forelimb CrCd:

elbow, radius/ulna

Forelimb DPa

carpus, metacarpus and digits

Forelimb CrCd and CdCr views challenges:

Patient comfort, distortion

Small animal forelimb views

Lateral views and CdCr or CrCd (as opposed to VD or DV)

What makes an elbow rad diagnostic ?

Olecranon should be between the medial and lateral humeral epicondyles

Hip dysplasia

Abnormal development of the femoral joint

OFA stands for

Orthopedic Foundation for Animals

PennHip Distraction view= joint laxity

Measures to what degree the femoral head is displaced from the acetabulum.

Use of distractor rods placed between the hindlimbs at the femoral heads

PennHip Compression view=joint congruity

Determine how good the fit is of the femoral head into the acetabulum

PennHip Hip-extended view =evals the integrity of the hip joint

May mask true hip joint laxity

The joint capsule is tightened when hips are extended

Most common view for dx of hip dysplasia is

VD hip extended

True or False: Certification required to take correct PennHIP radiographs

true

1

venteral

2

cranial

3

dorsal

4

caudal

5

dorsal

6

plantar

1

dorsal

2

caudal

3

plantar

4

ventral

5

cranial

6

dorsal

1

palmar

2

caudal

3

ventral

4

dorsal

5

cranial

6

dorsal