Patient positioning

Question 1

patient prep

Answer 1

must be clean and dry, remove harnesses/collars/leashes, if possible remove bandages, may need to fast beforehand/receive an enema/be sedated
state laws may require sedation

Question 2

how should patients be positioned?

Answer 2

with anatomical area of interest as close to x-ray table as possible, anatomical area of interest perpendicular to x-ray tube so distortion is minimal, large patients placed so thickest part of anatomical area of interest is toward cathode end of x-ray tube, takes advantage of greater number of x-rays produced toward cathode end of tube (heel effect)

Question 3

positioning aids

Answer 3

used to properly align patient (keep spine from rotating) and to enhance comfort
ex: tape, gauze, rope, etc
commercially available aids: sandbags, foam wedges, V-troughs, beanbags
aid must have nonporous outer covering so it can be cleaned
when using V-trough, caliper measurement should include the V-trough

Question 4

what is the minimum number of x-ray exposures that are made of a body part of interest?

Answer 4

two exposures usually at right angles to each other

Question 5

what is included when the area of interest is a long bone?

Answer 5

the joints above and below the bone

Question 6

what is included when the area of interest is a joint?

Answer 6

1/2 the length of the bone above and below the joint

Question 7

radiographic projections

Answer 7

directional terms used to describe the direction of the x-ray beam from where it enters to where it exits

Question 8

transverse plane

Answer 8

divides body into cranial/caudal

Question 9

median plane

Answer 9

divides body into left/right

Question 10

dorsal plane

Answer 10

divides body into anterior/posterior

Question 11

caudal

Answer 11

Cd
towards tail

Question 12

caudocranial

Answer 12

CdCr
direction from caudal to cranial surface
used for views proximal to the carpus/tarsus

Question 13

cranial

Answer 13

Cr
towards head

Question 14

craniocaudal

Answer 14

CrCd
direction from cranial to caudal surface
used for views proximal to the carpus/tarsus

Question 15

dorsopalmar

Answer 15

DPa
direction from dorsal to palmar surface of forelimb

Question 16

dorsoplantar

Answer 16

DPl
direction from dorsal to plantar surface of hindlimb

Question 17

dorsoventral

Answer 17

DV
direction from dorsal to ventral surface of body of quadrupeds

Question 18

dorsoventral

Answer 18

DV
direction from dorsal to ventral surface of body of quadruped
patient lays sternally

Question 19

lateral

Answer 19

L
pertaining to the side of the body

Question 20

medial

Answer 20

M
pertaining to the midline of the body

Question 21

oblique

Answer 21

O
x-ray beam enters at an angle other than 90 degrees to a structure
commonly used for dental

Question 22

palmar

Answer 22

Pa
bottom of front paw

Question 23

palmardorsal

Answer 23

PaD
direction from palmar surface of forelimb toward dorsal surface of body

Question 24

plantar

Answer 24

Pl
bottom of hindlimb paw

Question 25

plantarodorsal

Answer 25

PlD
direction from plantar surface of hindlimb toward dorsal surface of body

Question 26

rostral

Answer 26

R
pertaining to the nose

Question 27

ventrodorsal

Answer 27

VD
direction from ventral surface to dorsal surface of the body of quadrupeds

Question 28

left

Answer 28

Le
left side of body

Question 29

right

Answer 29

Rt
right side of body

Question 30

distal

Answer 30

Di
away from body on the limbs

Question 31

proximal

Answer 31

Pi
towards body on the limbs