Cervical Spine
The number of cervical vertebrae
What is 7?
The number of thoracic vertebrae.
What is 12?
The number of lumbar vertebrae.
What is 5?
The sacrum consists of this many fused vertebrae.
What is 5?
The number of rib pairs in the human body.
What is 12 pairs?
The CR angle for AP axial cervical spine.
What is 15–20° cephalad?
The central ray for AP thoracic spine is at this level.
What is T7?
The CR for AP lumbar spine is centered at this level (11x14 IR).
What is L4-5 (iliac crest)?
The CR angle for AP axial sacrum.
What is 15° cephalad?
Upper ribs are best imaged during this phase of breathing.
What is inspiration?
This routine projection best demonstrates C1–C2.
What is the AP open mouth (odontoid)?
This breathing technique is used for lateral thoracic spine.
What is orthostatic breathing?
The degree of rotation for lumbar obliques.
What is 45 degrees?
The CR angle for AP axial coccyx.
What is 10° caudad?
Lower ribs are best imaged during this phase of breathing.
What is expiration?
Body rotation required for cervical obliques.
What is 45 degrees?
Arms should be positioned this way for lateral thoracic spine.
What is raised above the head at right angles?
This structure forms the neck of the “Scotty dog” seen in oblique lumbar spine.
What is the pars interarticularis ?
The CR is centered here for sacrum imaging.
What is 2 inches superior to the pubic symphysis?
Posterior ribs are best demonstrated in this projection.
What is the AP projection?
This junction must be seen on a lateral C-spine for it to be diagnostic.
What is the C7–T1 junction?
This device is used to compensate for density differences in T-spine imaging.
What is a wedge filter?
This condition is indicated by a “collar” on the Scotty dog.
What is spondylolysis?
This positioning factor helps reduce curvature for sacrum/coccyx imaging.
What is flexing the knees (reducing lumbar lordosis)?
Anterior ribs are best demonstrated in this projection.
What is the PA projection?