Anatomical Landmarks Flashcards
Words that describe how dental images will appear
radiolucent and radiopaque
Radiolucent
black, dark gray
Radiopaque
white, light gray
Facial landmarks
Tragus of ear and ala of nose
How should the patient be sat for intra oral images?
Mid-sagittal plane perpendicular to the floor
Occlusal plane must be parallel to the floor
How must the patient be sat for extra oral mages?
ala-tragus line parallel to floor
Radiologic appearance of enamel
radiopaque
most dense structure in human body
Radiologic appearance of dentin
internal portion of tooth radiopaque- less dense than enamel
Radiologic appearance of cementum
Unable to see– because it is less dense than dentin
Radiologic appearance of pulp
radiolucent- composed of nerves and blood vessels –> soft tissue
Radiologic appearance of alveolar bone
radiopaque- composed or cortical and cancellous bone
Where teeth erupt from and how they are maintained in the jaw
Radiologic appearance of cortical bone
Radiopaque (dense)
compact or dense form of bone which lines the outside layers of the maxillary arch or mandible. Immediately surrounds and supports teeth
Also referred to as cribiform plate or lamina dura– continuous with alveolar crest– Borders the cancellous bone
Radiologic appearance of cancellous bone
Appears less radiopaque than the lamina dura– it is less dense
“Spongy”
Radiologic appearance of periodontal ligament
radiolucent line– between tooth and lamina dura
Radiologic appearance of nutrient canals
radiolucent lines in bone containing blood vessels and sometimes exhibit radiopaque borders
Landmarks of the maxillary arch around central/lateral incisors
Incisive foramen/anterior palatine foramen Median palatine suture Nasal Fossae Nasal septum Inferior nasal conchae
Radiologic appearance of incisive foramen/anterior palatine foramen
Radiolucent, oval shape between the apices of the central incisors
Radiologic appearance of median palatine suture
Radiolucent, extends posteriorly through the midline of the palate
Radiologic appearance of nasal fossae
2 radiolucent areas upper portion of radiograph; air spaces
Radiologic appearance of nasal septum
radiopaque between nasal fossae
Radiologic appearance of inferior nasal conchae
wafer-like bone located in nasal fossa
Landmarks of the maxillary arch near the cuspids
Nasal fossa
Maxillary sinus
Typical “Y” of maxillary sinus
location of nasal fossa from cuspids
Upper left corner
Radiologic appearance of maxillary sinus
Radiolucent- air space above bicuspids
Radiologic appearance of typical “Y” of maxillary sinus
Radiopaque- where the upper front wall of maxillary sinus joins with the floor of the nasal fossa
Maxillary Bicuspid landmarks
Maxillary sinus
Zygomatic or Malar bone
Radiologic appearance of zygomatic or malar bone
Rdiopaque- U shaped
Landmarks of the maxillary arch on molar radiographs
Maxillary sinus Zygomatic process Zygoma Maxillary tuberosity Medial plate of the pterygoid process or Hamular process Coronoid process
Radiologic appearance of zygomatic process
U shaped radiopacy in the apical region of the 1st and 2nd molars superimposed over the molar root tips
Radiologic appearance of the zygoma
Radiopaque- superimposed over maxillary molar sinus- extending posteriorly from the zygomatic bone
Radiologic appearance of maxillary tuberosity
Radiopaque
Radiologic appearance of Medial plate of pterygoid process or hamular process
Radiopaque- tendon attachment for muscle fibers
Radiologic appearance of coronoid process
Radiopaque- serves as a point of muscle attachment
Landmarks of the mandibular arch at central incisors
Lingual foramen Genial tubercles mental ridge/process Inferior border of the mandible Mental fossa
Radiologic appearance of Lingual foramen
radiolucent- between the apices of the central incisors
Radiologic appearance of genial tubercles
radiopaque- surrounds the lingual foramen
Radiologic appearance of mental ridge/process
Radiopaque, thickening of bone- located below the apices of the anterior teeth (labial)
Landmarks of the mandibular arch at the cuspids
Mental foramen
Inferior border of the mandible
Radiologic appearance of mental foramen
radiolucent- lies inferior to the apices of the bicuspids (labial)
Landmarks of the mandibular arch at the bicuspids
Mental foramen
Mylohyoid ridge (internal oblique ridge)
Inferior border of mandible
Radiologic appearance of mental foramen at the bicuspids
may be superimposed over the root apices of the bicuspids
Between them
Radiologic appearance of mylohyoid ridge
Radiopaque- below the apices of the molars
Landmarks of the mandibular arch at the molars
Submandibular fossa External oblique ridge Internal oblique ridge Mandibular canal Inferior border of mandible
Radiologic appearance of submandibular fossa
large, irregularly shaped area below roots of mandibular molar in which the bone thickening is reduced, often mistaken for a tissue
Radiologic appearance of external oblique ridge
Radiopaque- terminates in the region of the 3rd molar/ outer surface of the mandible
Radiologic appearance of internal oblique ridge
Radiopaque- inferior to the EOR also refered to as the mylohyoid ridge
Extends more anterior than the EOR- internal surface of mandible
Radiologic appearance of mandibular canal
Radiolucent- carries nerves and blood vessels; travels to area of mental foramen
