Cervical Spine Questions
1. A patient arrived from the ER and the physician wants to best validate stability of the cervical spine. Which position(s) would be performed?
Answer: Lateral flexion and extension
2. How many cervical vertebrae need to be visualized on the AP cervical image?
Answer: C3–C7
3. If spinous processes are present on the oblique image and the intervertebral foramina are not open, what is the positioning error?
Answer: Over-rotation
4. What is the positioning error if the right zygapophyseal joint is closed and the left zygapophyseal joint is open on an Open Mouth image?
Answer: The patient’s head is tilted toward the right
5. When observing the Open Mouth image, the left C1–C2 joint is open while the right C1–C2 joint is closed. What is the positioning error?
Answer: The patient’s head was tilted toward the right
6. On an AP cervical spine image, the base of the skull is superimposed on C3. What should be done for the repeat exposure?
Answer: Tuck the mandible toward the chest
7. On an AP cervical spine image, the mandible is superimposed on C3. What needs to be corrected?
Answer: Extend mandible
8. On an Open Mouth image, the patient’s teeth are superimposed on the dens. What positioning correction must be made?
Answer: Extend the patient’s chin
9. On an oblique cervical spine image, the intervertebral foramina are not round and the pedicle is located posteriorly across the vertebral body. What is the positioning error?
Answer: The patient was over-rotated
10. On an Open Mouth image, the dens is obscured by the base of the skull. What positioning correction must be made?
Answer: Tuck the chin more
11. On a lateral cervical spine image, the zygapophyseal joints are not superimposed. What is the positioning error?
Answer: The patient was rotated and not in a true lateral position
12. Which cervical spine projection best demonstrates the spinous processes?
Answer: Lateral
13. Which anatomy is best demonstrated by the RAO position?
Answer: Right intervertebral foramina
14. Which anatomy needs to be aligned for a properly positioned AP cervical spine?
Answer: Mandible and base of skull
15. Which position best demonstrates the height of the vertebral body?
Answer: Lateral
16. Which position best demonstrates the zygapophyseal joints?
Answer: Lateral
17. Which projection of the cervical spine will open the left intervertebral foramina?
Answer: LAO
18. How many vertebrae must be included on the lateral cervical spine image?
Answer: C1–T1
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