Normal X-Ray Anatomy

Axial and Appendicular

Skeleton
William Ursprung, DC

Lesson Objectives

Identify anatomical structures on plain

film radiographs
Identify the views commonly used to
radiograph the skeletal system
Utilize a basic search pattern to screen
plain film radiographs for pathology

Basic Rules for Interpretation

Plain films are a 2 dimensional gray scale

image of a 3 dimensional anatomical
structure
Four basic densities

Metal = very bright (white)

Bone = bright (white)
Water/soft tissue = (various shades of gray)
Air = dark (black)

Basic Rules for Interpretation

Rule of thumb for radiographs: min. of 2

views that are offset by 90 for any body
part
ABOLTS search pattern

A = anatomy
B = breaks or step defects in the cortex
O = opacities (ie blastic lesion, impacted fx)
L = lucencies (ie lytic lesion, displaced fx)
T= trabecular architecture
S = soft tissues (swelling, mass, fascial planes)

Cervical Spine

Anterior Posterior Open Mouth

Anterior Posterior Lower

Cervical

Lateral
Cervical

Cervical
Oblique

Thoracic Spine

Posterior Anterior Chest

Anterior
Posterior
Thoracic
Spine

Lateral Thoracic
Spine

Lumbar Spine

AP Lumbar

Lateral Lumbar

Pelvis and Hips

AP Pelvis

AP Pelvis

Shoulder

Normal Shoulder

Normal Shoulder

Elbow and Forearm

Normal Elbow

Normal Elbow

Forearm

Wrist and Hand

Normal Wrist

Normal Wrist

Normal Hand

Normal Hand

Knee

Normal Knee

Ankle and Foot

Normal Ankle

Normal Ankle

Normal
Ankle

Boehlers Angle

Normal
Foot

Normal
Foot