Introduction

Question 1

What are 2 of the main properties of x-rays?

Answer 1

They diverge in space from the source and have differential absorption.

Question 2

What does ALARA stand for?

Answer 2

As Low As Reasonably Achievable

There is no safe dose

Question 3

What is the path of the x-ray beam?

Answer 3

Travels from the source, through the subject, to the film.

Question 4

What is the central portion of the x-ray beam called?

Answer 4

The central ray.

It diverges less and gives the truest image.

Question 5

What does penetration of the beam depend on?

Answer 5

Density.
Denser object = less penetration.
More beam striking film = blacker.
Less beam striking film = whiter.

Question 6

Radiolucent:

Answer 6

Least tissue density; most blackness on film.
(Readily allowing x-rays to pass through the object to strike the film).
Ex: lungs are more radiolucent than bone.

Question 7

Radiopaque:

Answer 7

Most tissue density; most whiteness on film.
(Not permitting the transmission of x-rays through the object to the film).
Ex: Metal is more radiopaque than bone.

Question 8

How would you abbreviate the central ray entering the patient front to back along a horizontal plane?

Answer 8

AP

Question 9

How would you abbreviate the central ray entering the patient back to front along a horizontal plane?

Answer 9

PA

Question 10

In what way is the spine usually radiographed? (AP/PA)

Answer 10

AP

Question 11

What does recumbent mean?

Answer 11

laying down

Question 12

In a lateral projection, which side of the patient is in the name?

Answer 12

The side of the patient that’s closest to the film.

Question 13

In what plane is the beam for a lateral projection?

Answer 13

Coronal

Question 14

How do you position the patient for an oblique projection?

Answer 14

So that the central beam passes through the patient at a 45 degree angle to their coronal and sagittal planes.

Question 15

What are the 4 types of body positioning?

Answer 15

Upright (AP/PA or lateral).
Recumbent (supine or prone or lateral).
Oblique (right or left and anterior or posterior).
Decubitus.

Question 16

How is the upright position advantageous?

Answer 16

It allows for postural information and/or evaluation for leg length inequalities.

Question 17

When would recumbent positioning be useful?

Answer 17

When the patient is in a lot of pain or when the patient is very large.

Question 18

What is the minimal # of standard views required to evaluate an area?

Answer 18

2 views minimum (perpendicular to each other).

Question 19

T/F: Some body parts require more than 2 views for a minimal study.

Answer 19

True

Question 20

When choosing positioning it is important to:

Answer 20

Place the structures that you wish to visualize closest to the film.
Start with the standard (minimal diagnostic) series.

Question 21

What are the 5 things your positioning choices may be influenced by?

Answer 21

What particular structures you wish to visualize.
The patient’s clinical presentation.
The differential diagnoses under consideration.
The patient’s size.
Patient protection (ex: female pelvis).

Question 22

What do Mitchell Markers label?

Answer 22

Anatomical side of patient (AP/PA and extremities)
or
Side of patient closest to film (laterals and obliques).

Question 23

T/F: As a general rule, without a marker, you cannot identify which side of the patient is the left or right.

Answer 23

True. (There are a few exceptions).

Question 24

T/F: Superimposition is affected by the order (AP vs PA) that the beam strikes the objects.

Answer 24

False.

Superimposition is not affected by the order that the beam strikes the objects.

Question 25

What has an affect on superimposition?

Answer 25

The anatomical relationships of objects.

The objects relationship to the central ray.

Question 26

How do you magnify an image?

Answer 26

Move the object further from the film.
The further the beam has to travel to reach the film after striking the object, the more it will be magnified.
(OID = Object Image Difference)

Question 27

Describe collimation:

Answer 27

Shutters (barn door) that blocks peripheral portions of the beam.
Limits area exposed to beam (uses most central portion of beam).
Helps achieve better detail.

Question 28

What do the ABC’S of evaluation stand for?

Answer 28

Alignment
Bone
Cartilage
Soft Tissues

Question 29

Can normal cartilage be visualized on plain film?

Answer 29

No. It is represented by the space that it occupies.