Positioning

Question 1

Abdomen LAT
Measure:
Cranial Border:
Center Beam:
Caudal Border:
Should Include:

Answer 1

• thickest area, usually at last rib
• 1/2 between xiphoid and caudal border of scapula
• last rib
• coxofemoral joint
• diaphragm, apex of heart, entire abdomen

Question 2

Abdomen VD
Measure:
Cranial Border:
Center Beam:
Caudal Border:
Should Include:

Answer 2

• Thickest area, usually at last rib
• 1/2 way between caudal scapula and xiphoid
• last rib
• coxofemoral joint
• diaphragm, apex of heart, entire abdomen

Question 3

Thorax LAT
Measure:
Cranial Border:
Center Beam:
Caudal Border:
Should Include:

Answer 3

• thickest area (caudal scapula)
• thoracic inlet
• caudal border of scapula
• 1st lumbar vertebrae
• scapula, trachea, silhouette of heart, humerus, xiphoid

Question 4

Thorax VD 
Measure:
Cranial Border:
Center Beam:
Caudal Border:
Should Include:

Answer 4

• thickest area (caudal scapula)
• thoracic inlet
• caudal border of scapula
• first lumbar vertebrae
• scapula, humerus, trachea, silhouette of heart, xiphoid

Question 5

Pelvis scissors LAT
Measure:
Cranial Border:
Center Beam:
Caudal Border:
Should Include:

Answer 5

• at level of trochanters
• slightly cranial to edge of ilium
• trochanter
• caudal border of the ischium
• stifle, sacrum, ilium, femur, ischium, 7th lumbar vertebrae
• affected leg on the table pulled cranially*

Question 6

Pelvis frog legs 
Measure:
Cranial Border:
Center Beam:
Caudal Border:
Should Include:

Answer 6

• thickest part of pelvis
• cranial to ilium
• midline at the level of the ischial tuberosities
• distal to the patella
• stifle, ilium, ischium, 7th lumbar vertebrae, femur

Question 7

Femur LAT & CrCd VD 
Measure:
Cranial Border:
Center Beam:
Caudal Border:
Should Include:

Answer 7

• midshaft of femur
• coxofemoral joint
• mid shaft of femur
• proximal 1/3 of the tibia
• joints proximal and distal to the femur, ischium, ilium, stifle

Question 8

Stifle LAT & CdCr DV 
Measure:
Cranial Border:
Center Beam:
Caudal Border:
Should Include:

Answer 8

• distal portion of femur
• distal 1/3 of femur
• stifle joint
• proximal 1/3 of tibia
• stifle, 1/3 femur, 1/3 tibia

Question 9

Tibia LAT & CdCr DV
Measure:
Cranial Border:
Center Beam:
Caudal Border:
Should Include:

Answer 9

• mid shaft of tibia
• distal 1/3 of femur (LAT) / stifle (DV)
• mid shaft of tibia
• proximal 1/3 of tarsus (LAT) / tarsus (DV)
• tarsus and stifle joint

Question 10

Tarsus LAT & Dorsoplantar VD
Measure:
Cranial Border:
Center Beam:
Caudal Border:
Should Include:

Answer 10

• center of tarsal joint
• distal 1/3 of tibia
• tarsus joint
• proximal 1/3 of metatarsals
• tarsus joint, some tibia, metatarsal bones, phalanges

Question 11

Shoulder LAT
Measure:
Cranial Border:
Center Beam:
Caudal Border:
Should Include:

Answer 11

• shoulder joint to the point of the unaffected shoulder do not include unaffected limb
• distal third of scapula
• about 1” caudal from head of humerus for small dogs, 2” for large dogs
• proximal third of the humerus
• spine of scapula, head of humerus, great tubercle of humerus

Question 12

Humerus LAT & CaCr VD 
Measure:
Cranial Border:
Center Beam:
Caudal Border:
Should Include:

Answer 12

• proximal to midshaft
• proximal to shoulder
• midshaft of humerus
• distal to elbow
• shoulder joint, elbow

Question 13

Elbow LAT & CrCa DV
Measure:
Cranial Border:
Center Beam:
Caudal Border:
Should Include:

Answer 13

• Thickest part (near distal humerus)
• distal 1/3 of humerus
• distal condyles of humerus
• proximal 1/3 of radius/ulna
• 1/3 humerus, 1/3 r/u, elbow joint, olecranon

Question 14

Radius/Ulna LAT & CrCa DV 
Measure:
Cranial Border:
Center Beam:
Caudal Border:
Should Include:

Answer 14

• midshaft of r/u
• proximal to elbow
• midshaft of r/u
• distal to the carpus
• radius/ulna, elbow, carpus

Question 15

Carpus LAT & Dorsopalmar DV
Measure:
Cranial Border:
Center Beam:
Caudal Border:
Should Include:

Answer 15

• carpal joint
• distal 1/3 r/u
• carpal joint
• proximal 1/3 metacarpals
• digits, r/u

Question 16

Skull (LAT) 
Measure:
Cranial Border:
Center Beam:
Caudal Border:
Should Include:

Answer 16

• widest part of skull
• tip of the nose
• lateral canthus of the eye
• base of skull
• mandible, maxilla, frontal sinua, parietal bone

Question 17

Cervical Spine LAT 
Measure:
Cranial Border:
Center Beam:
Caudal Border:
Should Include:

Answer 17

• C4-C5
• base of skull
• C4-C5
• shoulder joint
• all 7 cervical vertebrae

Question 18

Thoracic Spine LAT & VD
Measure:
Cranial Border:
Center Beam:
Caudal Border:
Should Include:

Answer 18

• highest point of sternum
• midpoint of xiphoid
• caudal border of the scapula (T6)
• spine of the scapula
• C7-L1, Heart, trachea, sternum, thoracic vertebrae

Question 19

Thoracocolumbar Spine LAT & VD 
Measure:
Cranial Border:
Center Beam:
Caudal Border:
Should Include:

Answer 19

• highest point of thorax
• xiphoid
• midpoint of xiphoid
• last rib
• abdomen, T/L junction, lumbar spine

Question 20

Lumbar Spine LAT & VD
Measure:
Cranial Border:
Center Beam:
Caudal Border:
Should Include:

Answer 20

• At L1
• Last rib
• L3, L4
• Acetabulum
• lumbar vertebrae

Question 21

Lumbarsacral LAT & VD 
Measure:
Cranial Border:
Center Beam:
Caudal Border:
Should Include:

Answer 21

• wings of the ilium
• T-13
• 1/2 way between the xiphoid and wings of ilium
• lumbosacral joint
• pelvis, lumbar vertebrae, sacrum

Question 22

Coccygeal Spine LAT & VD 
Measure:
Cranial Border:
Center Beam:
Caudal Border:
Should Include:

Answer 22

• thickest part of tail
• lumbosacral joint
• midpoint of tail
• tip of tail
• entire tail