of radiographic terms

Glossary of radiographic terms



Abduction Refers to limbs or digits, when they are moved away from the median sagittal plane or trunk. An abducted thumb is moved away from the rest of the hand.


Adduction Refers to limbs or digits, when they are brought towards the median sagittal plane or trunk. An adducted thumb is moved towards the rest of the hand.


Anatomical position The trunk and limbs are extended fully, with the arms slightly abducted at the side. The palms of the hands face forwards. The front of the patient faces forwards.


Anterior The front of the patient, or body part, when the patient is in the anatomical position.


Anterior oblique An oblique position, when the anterior aspect of the patient is nearest the image receptor or a posteroanterior position with an oblique angle applied in a lateral or medial direction.


Anteroposterior A position where the anterior aspect of the patient faces the X-ray tube, and the central ray passes through this aspect and exits through the posterior aspect.


Anthropological baseline Baseline used in radiography of the head (see Ch. 16).


Bucky Antiscatter device.


Caudal Relating to the lower part of the body, or feet. Used mainly in conjunction with beam angulation, meaning to direct the beam towards the feet.


Coronal plane An imaginary line which divides the front and back of the head and trunk vertically. It is perpendicular to the median sagittal plane.


Cranial Relating to the head. Used mainly in conjunction with beam angulation, meaning to direct the beam towards the head.


Craniocaudal Mammographic term used when the breast is placed with its inferior aspect on the image receptor and the X-ray beam directed vertically to enter the breast on its uppermost surface, exiting inferiorly.


Decubitus The patient is in a horizontal position. Used in conjunction with a qualifying term to indicate which aspect of the body is nearest the image receptor, as in ‘lateral decubitus’, ‘prone decubitus’.


Dorsal The back of the patient or body part; sometimes used instead of ‘posterior’.


Dorsiflexion Flexion of the hand at the wrist when the dorsum of the hand moves in a posterior direction, or flexion of the foot at the ankle when the dorsal aspect of the foot moves towards the ankle.


Dorsipalmar The hand is placed with its palmar aspect on the image receptor.


Dorsiplantar The foot is placed with its sole on the image receptor.


Dorsum The back of the hand or the top of the foot.


Erect The patient is standing or sitting, with the median sagittal and coronal planes vertical.


Eversion Lateral flexion at the ankle joint. Excessive forced eversion can cause injury in the ankle or other joints.


Extension Typically, effecting ‘opening’ or straightening of a joint. For example, the extended elbow will place the arm in a position where the forearm and humerus continue in the same plane. Lumbar or thoracic spine: the patient usually bends backwards. Cervical spine: the head is tipped backwards to lift the chin. Foot: the foot is moved at the ankle so that the toes point downwards or posteriorly (although this is sometimes referred to as plantar flexion).


External

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Mar 3, 2016 | Posted by in GENERAL RADIOLOGY | Comments Off on of radiographic terms

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