Radiographic positioning terminology
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Radiographic positioning terminology is used routinely to describe the position of the patient for taking various radiographs. Standard nomenclature is employed with respect to the anatomic position.
Terminology
Basic terms of relations
anterior is towards the front of the body (Latin: before)
posterior is towards the back of the body (Latin: after)
superior is towards the top of the body (Latin: above)
inferior is towards the bottom of the body (Latin: below)
-
medial is towards the midline (Latin: middle)
compared with median which is in the midline rather than towards the midline
lateral is away from the midline (Latin: side)
proximal is towards the centre of the body (Latin: near)
distal is away from the centre of the body (Latin: far)
superficial is towards the surface of the body
deep is away from the surface of the body
ipsilateral is on the same side of the body
contralateral is on the opposite side of the body
Planes
-
the axial plane (transverse or transaxial plane): horizontal plane perpendicular to the long axis of the body
divides the body into superior and inferior parts
-
the sagittal plane: vertical plane parallel to the median plane (or midsagittal plane)
divides the body into right half and left halves
-
the coronal plane: vertical plane perpendicular to the median plane
divides the body into anterior and posterior parts
Body positions
erect: either standing or sitting
decubitus: lying down
supine: lying on back
Trendelenburg position: the patient is supine (on an inclined radiographic table) with the head lower than the feet
prone: lying face-down
-
lateral
decubitus:lying on oneside touches the cassetteright lateral: right side touches the cassette
left lateral: left side touches the cassette
-
lateral decubitus: lying on one side, cassette is anterior/posterior
right lateral decubitus: lying on right side
left lateral decubitus: lying left side
Movement
flexion: decrease in the angle of the joint
extension: increase in the angle of the joint
abduction: movement of limb away from midline
adduction: movement of limb towards the midline
pronation: movement of hand and forearm to bring the palm facing posterior
supination: movement of hand and forearm to bring the palm facing anterior
circumduction: circular movement of a joint using a combination of flexion, abduction, extension and adduction such that the distal limb describes a circle
opposition: thumb brought to oppose another digit
reposition: thumb repositioned back to the anatomic position
elevation: movement of the scapular superiorly
depression: movement of the scapular inferiorly
eversion: movement of the sole of the foot away from the median plane
inversion: movement of the sole of the foot towards from the median plane
protrusion: movement of the mandible, lips or tongue anteriorly
retraction: movement of the mandible, lips or tongue posteriorly
Projections
Depending on patient presentation, a single view or orthogonal projections comprising of the list projections below may be performed to visualise the region of interest.
antero-posterior (AP): central ray passes, perpendicular to the coronal plane, from anterior to posterior
-
postero-anterior (PA): central ray passes, perpendicular to the coronal plane, from posterior to anterior
depending on the anatomic segment to radiograph, synonyms can be used, for example: occipito-frontal (skull); dorso-ventral (thorax); dorso-palmar (hand)
lateral: central ray, perpendicular to the sagittal plane and parallel to the coronal plane, passes from one side of body to the other
oblique: central ray passes through the body/body part through a plane which is at an angle to the transverse plane/coronal plane
-
axial: central ray passes through (or parallel) to the long axis of the body
in some cases, however, the central ray runs through (or parallel) to the long axis of the skeletal segment studied (for example, the axial view of the calcaneus)
-<p><strong>Radiographic positioning terminology</strong> is used routinely to describe the position of the patient for taking various radiographs. Standard nomenclature is employed with respect to the <a href="/articles/anatomical-position">anatomic position</a>.</p><h4>Terminology</h4><h5>Basic terms of relations</h5><ul>-<li>-<strong>anterior </strong>is towards the front of the body (Latin: before)</li>-<li>-<strong>posterior </strong>is towards the back of the body (Latin: after)</li>-<li>-<strong>superior </strong>is towards the top of the body (Latin: above)</li>-<li>-<strong>inferior </strong>is towards the bottom of the body (Latin: below)</li>-<li>-<strong>medial </strong>is towards the midline (Latin: middle)<ul><li>compared with <strong>median </strong>which is in the midline rather than towards the midline</li></ul>-</li>-<li>-<strong>lateral </strong>is away from the midline (Latin: side)</li>-<li>-<strong>proximal </strong>is towards the centre of the body (Latin: near)</li>-<li>-<strong>distal </strong>is away from the centre of the body (Latin: far)</li>-<li>-<strong>superficial </strong>is towards the surface of the body</li>-<li>-<strong>deep </strong>is away from the surface of the body</li>-<li>-<strong>ipsilateral </strong>is on the same side of the body</li>-<li>-<strong>contralateral </strong>is on the opposite side of the body</li>-</ul><h5>Planes</h5><ul>-<li>the<strong> axial plane </strong>(transverse or transaxial plane): horizontal plane perpendicular to the long axis of the body<ul><li>divides the body into superior and inferior parts</li></ul>-</li>-<li>the<strong> sagittal plane</strong>: vertical plane parallel to the <strong>median plane</strong> (or midsagittal plane)<ul><li>divides the body into right half and left halves</li></ul>-</li>-<li>the<strong> coronal plane</strong>: vertical plane perpendicular to the median plane<ul><li>divides the body into anterior and posterior parts</li></ul>-</li>-</ul><h5>Body positions</h5><ul>-<li>-<strong>erect</strong>: either standing or sitting</li>-<li>-<strong>decubitus</strong>: lying down</li>-<li>-<strong>supine</strong>: lying on back</li>-<li>-<strong>Trendelenburg position</strong>: the patient is supine (on an inclined radiographic table) with the head lower than the feet</li>-<li>-<strong>prone</strong>: lying face-down</li>-<li>-<strong>lateral decubitus</strong>: lying on one side<ul>-<li>right lateral: right side touches the cassette</li>-<li>left lateral: left side touches the cassette</li>-</ul>-</li>-</ul><h5>Movement</h5><ul>-<li>-<strong>flexion:</strong> decrease in the angle of the joint</li>-<li>-<strong>extension:</strong> increase in the angle of the joint</li>-<li>-<strong>abduction:</strong> movement of limb away from midline</li>-<li>-<strong>adduction: </strong>movement of limb towards the midline</li>-<li>-<strong>pronation:</strong> movement of hand and forearm to bring the palm facing posterior</li>-<li>-<strong>supination: </strong>movement of hand and forearm to bring the palm facing anterior</li>-<li>-<strong>circumduction:</strong> circular movement of a joint using a combination of flexion, abduction, extension and adduction such that the distal limb describes a circle</li>-<li>-<strong>opposition: </strong>thumb brought to oppose another digit</li>-<li>-<strong>reposition:</strong> thumb repositioned back to the anatomic position</li>-<li>-<strong>elevation: </strong>movement of the scapular superiorly</li>-<li>-<strong>depression:</strong> movement of the scapular inferiorly</li>-<li>-<strong>eversion:</strong> movement of the sole of the foot away from the median plane</li>-<li>-<strong>inversion:</strong> movement of the sole of the foot towards from the median plane</li>-<li>-<strong>protrusion: </strong>movement of the mandible, lips or tongue anteriorly</li>-<li>-<strong>retraction:</strong> movement of the mandible, lips or tongue posteriorly</li>-</ul><h4>Projections</h4><ul>-<li>-<strong>antero-posterior (AP)</strong><strong>: </strong>central ray passes, perpendicular to the coronal plane, from anterior to posterior</li>-<li>-<strong>postero-anterior (PA)</strong><strong>:</strong> central ray passes, perpendicular to the coronal plane, from posterior to anterior<ul><li>depending on the anatomic segment to radiograph, synonyms can be used, for example: occipito-frontal (skull); dorso-ventral (thorax); dorso-palmar (hand)</li></ul>-</li>-<li>-<strong>lateral: </strong>central ray, perpendicular to the sagittal plane and parallel to the coronal plane, passes from one side of body to the other</li>-<li>-<strong>oblique: </strong>central ray passes through the body/body part through a plane which is at an angle to the transverse plane/coronal plane</li>-<li>-<strong>axial: </strong>central ray passes through (or parallel) to the long axis of the body<ul><li>in some cases, however, the central ray runs through (or parallel) to the long axis of the skeletal segment studied (for example, the axial view of the calcaneus)</li></ul>-</li>- +<p><strong>Radiographic positioning terminology</strong> is used routinely to describe the position of the patient for taking various radiographs. Standard nomenclature is employed with respect to the <a href="/articles/anatomical-position">anatomic position</a>.</p><h4>Terminology</h4><h5>Basic terms of relations</h5><ul>
- +<li><p><strong>anterior </strong>is towards the front of the body (Latin: before)</p></li>
- +<li><p><strong>posterior </strong>is towards the back of the body (Latin: after)</p></li>
- +<li><p><strong>superior </strong>is towards the top of the body (Latin: above)</p></li>
- +<li><p><strong>inferior </strong>is towards the bottom of the body (Latin: below)</p></li>
- +<li>
- +<p><strong>medial </strong>is towards the midline (Latin: middle)</p>
- +<ul><li><p>compared with <strong>median </strong>which is in the midline rather than towards the midline</p></li></ul>
- +</li>
- +<li><p><strong>lateral </strong>is away from the midline (Latin: side)</p></li>
- +<li><p><strong>proximal </strong>is towards the centre of the body (Latin: near)</p></li>
- +<li><p><strong>distal </strong>is away from the centre of the body (Latin: far)</p></li>
- +<li><p><strong>superficial </strong>is towards the surface of the body</p></li>
- +<li><p><strong>deep </strong>is away from the surface of the body</p></li>
- +<li><p><strong>ipsilateral </strong>is on the same side of the body</p></li>
- +<li><p><strong>contralateral </strong>is on the opposite side of the body</p></li>
- +</ul><h5>Planes</h5><ul>
- +<li>
- +<p>the<strong> axial plane </strong>(transverse or transaxial plane): horizontal plane perpendicular to the long axis of the body</p>
- +<ul><li><p>divides the body into superior and inferior parts</p></li></ul>
- +</li>
- +<li>
- +<p>the<strong> sagittal plane</strong>: vertical plane parallel to the <strong>median plane</strong> (or midsagittal plane)</p>
- +<ul><li><p>divides the body into right half and left halves</p></li></ul>
- +</li>
- +<li>
- +<p>the<strong> coronal plane</strong>: vertical plane perpendicular to the median plane</p>
- +<ul><li><p>divides the body into anterior and posterior parts</p></li></ul>
- +</li>
- +</ul><h5>Body positions</h5><ul>
- +<li><p><strong>erect</strong>: either standing or sitting</p></li>
- +<li><p><strong>decubitus</strong>: lying down</p></li>
- +<li><p><strong>supine</strong>: lying on back</p></li>
- +<li><p><strong>Trendelenburg position</strong>: the patient is supine (on an inclined radiographic table) with the head lower than the feet</p></li>
- +<li><p><strong>prone</strong>: lying face-down</p></li>
- +<li>
- +<p><strong>lateral</strong>: side touches the cassette</p>
- +<ul>
- +<li><p>right lateral: right side touches the cassette</p></li>
- +<li><p>left lateral: left side touches the cassette</p></li>
- +</ul>
- +</li>
- +<li>
- +<p><strong>lateral decubitus</strong>: lying on one side, cassette is anterior/posterior</p>
- +<ul>
- +<li><p>right lateral decubitus: lying on right side</p></li>
- +<li><p>left lateral decubitus: lying left side</p></li>
- +</ul>
- +</li>
- +</ul><h5>Movement</h5><ul>
- +<li><p><strong>flexion:</strong> decrease in the angle of the joint</p></li>
- +<li><p><strong>extension:</strong> increase in the angle of the joint</p></li>
- +<li><p><strong>abduction:</strong> movement of limb away from midline</p></li>
- +<li><p><strong>adduction: </strong>movement of limb towards the midline</p></li>
- +<li><p><strong>pronation:</strong> movement of hand and forearm to bring the palm facing posterior</p></li>
- +<li><p><strong>supination: </strong>movement of hand and forearm to bring the palm facing anterior</p></li>
- +<li><p><strong>circumduction:</strong> circular movement of a joint using a combination of flexion, abduction, extension and adduction such that the distal limb describes a circle</p></li>
- +<li><p><strong>opposition: </strong>thumb brought to oppose another digit</p></li>
- +<li><p><strong>reposition:</strong> thumb repositioned back to the anatomic position</p></li>
- +<li><p><strong>elevation: </strong>movement of the scapular superiorly</p></li>
- +<li><p><strong>depression:</strong> movement of the scapular inferiorly</p></li>
- +<li><p><strong>eversion:</strong> movement of the sole of the foot away from the median plane</p></li>
- +<li><p><strong>inversion:</strong> movement of the sole of the foot towards from the median plane</p></li>
- +<li><p><strong>protrusion: </strong>movement of the mandible, lips or tongue anteriorly</p></li>
- +<li><p><strong>retraction:</strong> movement of the mandible, lips or tongue posteriorly</p></li>
- +</ul><h4>Projections</h4><p>Depending on patient presentation, a single view or <a href="/articles/orthogonal-projection" title="Orthogonal projections">orthogonal projections</a> comprising of the list projections below may be performed to visualise the region of interest.</p><ul>
- +<li><p><strong>antero-posterior (AP): </strong>central ray passes, perpendicular to the coronal plane, from anterior to posterior</p></li>
- +<li>
- +<p><strong>postero-anterior (PA):</strong> central ray passes, perpendicular to the coronal plane, from posterior to anterior</p>
- +<ul><li><p>depending on the anatomic segment to radiograph, synonyms can be used, for example: occipito-frontal (skull); dorso-ventral (thorax); dorso-palmar (hand)</p></li></ul>
- +</li>
- +<li><p><strong>lateral: </strong>central ray, perpendicular to the sagittal plane and parallel to the coronal plane, passes from one side of body to the other</p></li>
- +<li><p><strong>oblique: </strong>central ray passes through the body/body part through a plane which is at an angle to the transverse plane/coronal plane</p></li>
- +<li>
- +<p><strong>axial: </strong>central ray passes through (or parallel) to the long axis of the body</p>
- +<ul><li><p>in some cases, however, the central ray runs through (or parallel) to the long axis of the skeletal segment studied (for example, the axial view of the calcaneus)</p></li></ul>
- +</li>
References changed:
- 5. Butler G. The Inverted Position in Roentgenography. Radiology. 1951;56(1):66-72. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1148/56.1.66">doi:10.1148/56.1.66</a> - <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14808581">Pubmed</a>
- 5. BUTLER GV. The inverted position in roentgenography. (1951) Radiology. 56 (1): 66-72. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1148/56.1.66">doi:10.1148/56.1.66</a> - <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14808581">Pubmed</a> <span class="ref_v4"></span>