Radiology Positioning

1. POSITIONING
TERMINOLOGY
MEDICAL
POSITIONING
By - Anupam Das
Science in Medical Radiation Therapy &
Imaging Technology
( Department of Radiology)

2. The anatomic
Position

3. The anatomic Position

4. Body
Planes

5. BODY PLANES - Imaginary lines passing
through the body in the anatomic position.
o Midsagittal Plane (median plane) is a
longitudinal plane.
o Divides body into equal right and left
portions.
o Abbreviated MSP.
o A sagittal plane divides the body into right and
left sections, but not equally. These planes run
parallel with the midsagittal plane.

6. Body planes
o Midcoronal plane is a longitudinal plane.
o Divides the body into equal front (anterior)
and back (posterior) sections.
o Abbreviated MCP
o Coronal planes divide the body into front and
back sections, but not equally. These planes
run parallel with the midcoronal plane.

7. Body planes
o Horizontal, Transverse, or Axial Planes.
o Any transverse plane dividing the body into
upper (superior) and lower (inferior) sections.

8. Body Surfaces

9. Body planes
o Anterior (ventral) -
Front half of the body that includes the top
of the feet and the palms of the hands. Refers also to
the forward part of an organ.
o Posterior (dorsal) -
Back half of the body that includes the
bottom of the feet and the back of the hands. Refers
also to the back part of an organ.

10. Surfaces of the Feet & Hands
o Plantar – soles of feet (posterior).
o Dorsum – top of the foot (anterior) “dorsum
pedis”.
o Palmar – palm of hand that is known also as
the anterior or ventral surface.

11. General body positions
o Supine – lying on the back, face up.
o Prone – Lying face down.
o Recumbent – Lying down in any position.
o Trendelenburg’s position – Supine with the head lower
than the feet.
o Erect – (includes seated erect position) Upright position.

12. Supine and recumbent

13. Prone and recumbent

14. Trendelenburg

15. Specific body positions
o Always described by the side or sides closest to the image receptor!
o Erect or recumbent lateral position:
Right lateral – right side closest to IR.
Left lateral – left side closest to the IR
Demonstrates a side view.

16. Describe this patient’s
position.

17. Answer
o If you answered the right lateral,
erect position, you are correct.

18. Describe this patient’s position.

19. Answer
o If you answered right lateral,
recumbent position, you are correct.

20. Oblique positions
o The chest, abdomen, or pelvis is rotated
from the supine, prone or lateral positions.
o A limb is rotated from the AP, PA or lateral
positions.

21. Specific oblique body positions
o Anterior Obliques – as laterals are describe by the body
surfaces closest to the IR.
o RAO – right anterior oblique position – right and anterior
surfaces closest to image receptor.
o LAO – left anterior oblique – left and anterior surfaces
closest to IR.

22. In what position is this
patient positioned

23. Answer
o If you answer erect, left posterior
oblique you are correct.

24. In what oblique position is this
patient?

25. Answer
o If you answered recumbent, left
posterior oblique, you are correct.

28. Medial Rotation of the Foot

29. Specific body positions
Decubitus positions always require a horizontal central
ray and vertical placement of the image receptor (IR).
Decubitus means to lie down.

30. Specific decubitus positions
LLD – Left lateral decubitus position – Patient lying on
left side with the IR placed vertically and the x-ray beam
horizontal.
RLD – right lateral decubitus position –Patient lying on
their right side with the IR placed vertically and the x-ray
beam horizontal.

31. Left Lateral Decubitus
Position (LLD)

32. Specific decubitus positions
o Dorsal decubitus position –
Patient lying on back with the IR placed vertically adjacent to a
side of the patient, and the x-ray beam horizontal.
o Ventral decubitus position –
Patient lying face down with the IR placed vertically adjacent to
a side of the patient, and the x-ray beam horizontal.
Both the dorsal and ventral decubitus positions
ALWAYS DEMONSTRATE A SIDE OR LATERAL IMAGE!

33. Dorsal Decubitus Position

34. Ventral Decubitus Position

35. Ap (anteroposterior) projection
o CR enters the anterior body surface and exits the
posterior body surface.
o IR closest to the posterior surface of the patient.

36. AP Projection

37. Pa (posteroanterior) projection
o The CR enters the posterior surface of
the body and exits the anterior surface.
o IR closest to the anterior surface of the
patient.

38. PA Projection

39. Cephalad CR Angulation – Axial
Projection

40. RELATIONSHIP TERMS
o Medial - “inside part” – closest to median plane or midline of the
body
o Lateral – away from median plane or midline of body.
o Proximal – near the source or beginning. In regards to extremities,
the part closest to the trunk of the body.
o Distal – away from the source. In regards to extremities, the part
furthest from the trunk of the body.

41. Celationship terms

42. Relationship terms
o Cephalad – toward the head.
o Caudad – toward the feet.
o Superior – nearer the head or situated above.
o Inferior – nearer the feet or situated below.
o Ipsolateral - part or parts on the same side of the body.
o Contralateral – Part or parts on the opposite side of the body.

43. Body movement terminology
o Abduction – lateral movement of arm or leg away from the body.
o Adduction – movement of arm or leg toward the body.
o Flexion – bending or decreasing the angle of a joint.
o Extension – Straightening or increasing the angle of a joint.

46. Body movement terminology
o Eversion – outward turning of the foot at the ankle.
o Inversion – inward turning of the foot at the ankle.
o Pronation – Tuning the palm of the hand down.
o Supination – Turning the palm of the hand up.

47. Eversion

48. Inversion

50. THANK YOU