Film: 8 x 10 (18 x 24 cm)
Position of patient
- patient in lateral position, either seated or standing, before a vertical grid device.
- adjust the height of the cassette at the center level of the 4th cervical segment.
Position of part
- center the coronal plane passing through the tips o the mastoid processes to the midline of the film.
- move the patient close enough to the stand to permit the patient to rest the adjacent shoulder against it for support.
- rotate the shoulders anteriorly or superiorly
- if the patient is round shouldered, rotate them anteriorly; otherwise , rotate them posteriorly.
- depressed the shoulders and immobilize them by having the patient hold the one equal small sand bag in each hand.
- if the patient is seated under the rungs f the stool, have the patient grasp one end of the gauze in each hand and pull.
- adjust the body in a true lateral position.
- elevate the chin slightly to prevent superimposition of the mandibular rami and the spine.
- ask the patient to look steadily at one spot on the wall to aid in maintaining the position of the head.
- respiration is suspended to obtain maximum depression of the shoulders
Central ray
- direct the CR horizontally to the 4h cervical vertebra.
Structure shown
- this method presents a lateral position of the cervical bodies and their interspaces, the articular pillars, the lower five articular facets, and the spinous processes.
