Radiology Positions & Terms KW

Decubitus position

Laying down specifically on the left or right side

Supine position

lying on back, facing upward

Prone position

lying on abdomen, facing downward

Erect position

standing or sitting upright

Lateral position

Lying or standing on one side

Left lateral

Left side against detector

Right lateral

Right side against detector

Posteroanterior (PA)

Facing the detector the beam enters back, exits front of body

Anteroposterior (AP)

Back to the detector the beam enters the front, exits the back

Oblique

Angled views to separate overlapping structures

Lordotic

Angled view of a chest x-ray to see lung apices, arched back, shoulders and head against the plate

Axial/Transverse

An angled view to reveal structures hidden by overlapping bones

Dorsoplantar

X-ray beam that enters the top of the foot and exits through the bottom of the foot

Plantodorsal

X-ray beam that enters the bottom of the foot and exits the top

Inferosuperior

X-ray beam travels from the inferior portion of the body to the superior portion of the body

Superoinferior

X-ray beam travels from the superior portion of the body to the inferior

Flexion

Bending joints

Extension

Straightening joints

Abduction

Moving limb away from midline

Adduction

Moving limb towards midline

Pronation

turning the palm downward

Supination

turning the palm upward

Sagittal plane

divides body into left and right

Coronal plane

divides body into front and back

Horizontal/Axial

divides body into superior and inferior

Semi-erect

partially sat up

Trendelenburg position

lying on back with body tilted so that the head is lower than the feet

tangential

X-ray beam is directed at a angle to the surface of the object to provide a clear image of a specific edge or surface

kVp

Kilovoltage peak

Kilovoltage peak (kVp)

The maximum voltage applied across the x-ray tube

Kilovoltage

Exposure parameter used to control the quality and quantity of the x-ray beam

High kVp

High energy, more penetration, lower contrast (more scatter)

Low kVp

Low energy, less penetration, high contrast (less scatter)