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)
o 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 center of the body (Latin: near)
 distal is away from the center 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
o divides the body into superior and inferior parts
 the sagittal plane: vertical plane parallel to the median plane (or
midsaggital plane)
o divides the body into right half and left halves
 the coronal plane: vertical plane perpendicular to the median plane
o divides the body into anterior and posterior parts

Body positions
 erect: either standing or sitting
 decubitus: lying down
 supine: lying on back
 Trendelemburg 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 one side
o right lateral: right side touches the cassette
o left lateral: left side touches the cassette

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
 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
 o 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
o 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)
References

Related Radiopaedia articles

Radiographic views
 imaging in practice
 paediatric radiography
 general radiography (adult)
o radiographic positioning and terminology
o systematic radiographic technical evaluation
 shunt series
 chest radiography
o PA view
o lateral view
o AP erect view
o supine view
o lordotic view
o lateral decubitus view
o expiratory chest radiograph
o sternum lateral view
o sternum oblique view
o ribs AP view
 o ribs PA view
o ribs oblique view
 abdominal radiography
o acute abdominal series
o AP supine view
o PA erect view
o abdomen (KUB view)
o lateral decubitus view
o dorsal decubitus view
o PA prone view
o lateral view
o oblique views
 upper limb radiography
o shoulder girdle radiography
 scapula series
 AP view
 lateral view
 coracoid view
 shoulder series
 AP view
 internal rotation view
 external rotation view
 superoinferior axial view
 inferosuperior axial view
 modified trauma axial
 supine lateral
 modified supine lateral
 Y lateral view
 AP glenoid view (Grashey view)
 apical oblique view (Garth view)
 humerus (neck) AP view
 humerus axial (bicipital groove) view (Fisk view)
  outlet view (Neer view)
 Stryker notch view
 acromioclavicular joint series
 AP view
 arm abducted view
 AP weight bearing view
 Zanca view
 clavicle series
 AP view
 axial view
 oblique view
 sternoclavicular joint series
 PA view
 oblique view
 serendipity view
o arm and forearm radiography
 humerus series
 AP view
 lateral view
 elbow series
 AP view
 lateral view
 supracondylar AP view
 acute flexion AP
 inferosuperior view
 Coyle's view
 external oblique view
 medial oblique view
 forearm series
 AP view
 lateral view
 PA view
 horizontal beam lateral view
o wrist and hand radiography
 wrist series
 PA view
 lateral view
 horizontal beam lateral view
 oblique view
 carpal tunnel view
 trapezium view
 pisiform view
 PA radial deviation view
 carpal bridge view
 scaphoid series
 PA view
 PA axial view
 oblique view
 lateral view
 clenched fist view
 hand series
 PA view
 DP oblique view
 lateral view
 ball-catcher view (Norgaard view)
 thumb series
 AP/PA view
 lateral view
 oblique view
 fingers series
 PA view
 lateral view
 oblique view
 rheumatology hands series
 both hands PA view
 ball-catcher view (Norgaard view)
  bone age series
 lower limb radiography
o pelvic girdle radiography
 pelvis series
 AP view
 outlet view
 inlet view
 oblique acetabular view (Judet view)
 flamingo view
 hip series
 AP view
 lateral view
 horizontal beam lateral view
 Clements-Nakayama view
 frog leg view
 Dunn view
 Von Rosen view
 sacroiliac joint series
 AP view
 PA view
 PA oblique view
 AP oblique view
o thigh and leg radiography
 femur series
 AP view
 lateral view
 knee series
 AP view
 oblique view
 lateral view
 horizontal beam lateral view
 AP weight-bearing view
 intercondylar view
  Rosenberg view
 skyline Laurine view
 skyline Merchant view
 tibia/fibula series
 AP view
 lateral view
o ankle and foot radiography
 ankle series
 AP view
 AP mortise view
 lateral view
 horizontal beam lateral view
 AP stress views
 foot series
 DP view
 oblique view
 lateral view
 weightbearing DP view
 weightbearing lateral view
 calcaneus series
 axial view
 lateral view
 toes series
 AP view
 oblique view
 lateral view
 sesamoid view
 skull radiography
o PA view
o AP view
o lateral view
o AP axial view (Towne view)
o PA axial view (Caldwell view)
 o occipitomental view (Waters view)
o acanthioparietal view (reverse waters view)
o occipitomental 30º view (Titterington view)
o submentovertex (SMV) view
 paranasal sinuses and facial bones radiography
o facial bones
 lateral view
 Waters view
o Caldwell view (angled skull PA view)
o nasal bones
 lateral view
 Waters view
 axial view
o zygomatic arches
 submentovertex (SMV) view
 oblique view
 Waters view
 AP axial view
o orbits
 parieto-orbital view
 Waters view
o paranasal sinuses
 lateral view
 PA angled view (Caldwell view)
 parietocanthal view (Waters view)
 transoral parietocanthal view (open mouth Waters view)
 submentovertex (SMV) view
o temporal bones
 axiolateral oblique view
 AP axial view
 Stenvers view
 modified Stenvers view
  submentovertex (SMV) view
 dental radiography
o orthopantomography (OPG)
o mandible
 axiolateral view
 AP/PA view
 AP axial view
 submentovertex (SMV) view
o temporomandibular joints
 AP axial view
 axiolateral view
 axiolateral oblique view
 spine radiography
o cervical spine radiography
 AP view
 lateral view
 AP oblique view
 PA oblique view
 cervicothoracic view (swimmer's view)
 AP open mouth odontoid view
 AP closed mouth odontoid view (Fuchs view)
 lateral flexion and extension views
o thoracic spine radiography
 AP view
 lateral view
 oblique view
o lumbar spine series
 AP view
 lateral view
 oblique view
 lateral flexion and extension views
o sacrococcygeal radiography
  sacrum AP view
 coccyx AP view
 lateral view
o scoliosis radiography
 PA/AP view
 erect lateral view
 lateral bending view