Axial and Appendicular Skeleton William Ursprung, DC 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
Boehler’s Angle
Normal Foot
Normal Foot