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BONTRAGER'S TEXTBOOK OF RADIOGRAPHIC POSITIONING AND
RELATED ANATOMY, 8TH EDITION EXAM 2026 LATEST VERSION
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 2026 EDITION
BONTRAGER'S TEXTBOOK OF RADIOGRAPHIC POSITIONING AND
RELATED ANATOMY, 8TH EDITION EXAMINATION
250 Questions with Rationales
SECTION 1: TERMINOLOGY, POSITIONING, AND IMAGING PRINCIPLES
(Questions 1-30)
Question 1
The two most common landmarks for chest positioning are the:
A) Top of shoulders and xiphoid process
B) Jugular notch and top of shoulders
C) Lower margin of thyroid cartilage and vertebra prominens
D) Jugular notch and vertebra prominens
Rationale: The correct answer is D. The jugular notch (at the level of T2-T3) and the
vertebra prominens (C7) are the two most common landmarks for chest positioning . These
bony landmarks are used to center the image receptor and ensure proper anatomical coverage.
Question 2
The vertebra prominens corresponds to the level of:
A) C7
B) C5
C) T2
D) C4-C5
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Rationale: The correct answer is A. The vertebra prominens is the spinous process of the
seventh cervical vertebra (C7). It is the most prominent spinous process at the base of the
neck and serves as a key anatomical landmark for positioning .
Question 3
The xiphoid process is a reliable positioning landmark for determining the lower
margin of the lungs for chest positioning.
A) True
B) False
Rationale: The correct answer is B. The xiphoid process is NOT a reliable positioning
landmark for determining the lower margin of the lungs for chest positioning . The inferior
margin of the lungs typically lies at the level of T10-T11, which is not reliably indicated by
the xiphoid process.
Question 4
The upper margin of the lungs is at the level of the:
A) Jugular notch
B) Vertebra prominens
C) Laryngeal prominence
D) Sternal angle
Rationale: The correct answer is A. The upper margin of the lungs (the apices) extends
approximately 2-3 cm above the clavicles. The jugular notch (at the level of T2-T3) serves as
a useful landmark for ensuring the apices are included on a chest radiograph .
Question 5
What is the name of the structure that serves as a common passageway for both food
and air?
A) Epiglottis
B) Larynx
C) Pharynx
D) Esophagus
Rationale: The correct answer is C. The pharynx serves as a common passageway for both
food and air . It connects the nasal and oral cavities to the larynx and esophagus. The
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epiglottis is a flap that covers the trachea during swallowing, but the pharynx is the shared
space.
Question 6
The jugular notch is located on the:
A) Sternum
B) Thyroid cartilage
C) Seventh cervical vertebra
D) Scapula
Rationale: The correct answer is A. The jugular notch (also called the suprasternal notch) is
located on the superior border of the sternum . It is a palpable landmark between the medial
ends of the clavicles.
Question 7
Which term refers to the imaginary line that divides the body into right and left halves?
A) Coronal plane
B) Sagittal plane
C) Transverse plane
D) Horizontal plane
Rationale: The correct answer is B. The sagittal plane divides the body into right and left
portions. The midsagittal plane divides the body into equal right and left halves. The coronal
plane divides the body into anterior and posterior portions.
Question 8
The term "anteroposterior" refers to the direction of the central ray from:
A) Back to front
B) Front to back
C) Right to left
D) Left to right
Rationale: The correct answer is B. Anteroposterior (AP) refers to the direction of the central
ray entering the anterior surface and exiting the posterior surface. Posteroanterior (PA) refers
to the central ray entering the posterior surface and exiting the anterior surface.
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Question 9
What is the correct position for a PA chest projection?
A) Patient facing the image receptor, central ray perpendicular to the image receptor
B) Patient facing away from the image receptor, central ray perpendicular to the image
receptor
C) Patient in lateral position, central ray horizontal
D) Patient in decubitus position, central ray horizontal
Rationale: The correct answer is A. In the PA chest projection, the patient faces the image
receptor with the back to the x-ray tube. The central ray is perpendicular to the image
receptor at the level of T7 (approximately the mid-thorax).
Question 10
The preferred projection for routine chest radiography in adults is:
A) AP
B) PA
C) Lateral
D) Oblique
Rationale: The correct answer is B. The PA projection is preferred for routine chest
radiography because it places the heart closer to the image receptor, reducing magnification
and providing a more accurate representation of cardiac size.
SECTION 2: CHEST AND BONY THORAX (Questions 11-50)
Question 11
The recommended SID for a routine PA chest radiograph is:
A) 40 inches (102 cm)
B) 56 inches (142 cm)
C) 72 inches (183 cm)
D) 48 inches (122 cm)
Rationale: The correct answer is C. A 72-inch (183 cm) SID is recommended for routine PA
chest radiography to minimize magnification of the heart. This is a standard distance used in
radiographic positioning.
BONTRAGER'S TEXTBOOK OF RADIOGRAPHIC POSITIONING AND
RELATED ANATOMY, 8TH EDITION EXAM 2026 LATEST VERSION
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 2026 EDITION
BONTRAGER'S TEXTBOOK OF RADIOGRAPHIC POSITIONING AND
RELATED ANATOMY, 8TH EDITION EXAMINATION
250 Questions with Rationales
SECTION 1: TERMINOLOGY, POSITIONING, AND IMAGING PRINCIPLES
(Questions 1-30)
Question 1
The two most common landmarks for chest positioning are the:
A) Top of shoulders and xiphoid process
B) Jugular notch and top of shoulders
C) Lower margin of thyroid cartilage and vertebra prominens
D) Jugular notch and vertebra prominens
Rationale: The correct answer is D. The jugular notch (at the level of T2-T3) and the
vertebra prominens (C7) are the two most common landmarks for chest positioning . These
bony landmarks are used to center the image receptor and ensure proper anatomical coverage.
Question 2
The vertebra prominens corresponds to the level of:
A) C7
B) C5
C) T2
D) C4-C5
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Rationale: The correct answer is A. The vertebra prominens is the spinous process of the
seventh cervical vertebra (C7). It is the most prominent spinous process at the base of the
neck and serves as a key anatomical landmark for positioning .
Question 3
The xiphoid process is a reliable positioning landmark for determining the lower
margin of the lungs for chest positioning.
A) True
B) False
Rationale: The correct answer is B. The xiphoid process is NOT a reliable positioning
landmark for determining the lower margin of the lungs for chest positioning . The inferior
margin of the lungs typically lies at the level of T10-T11, which is not reliably indicated by
the xiphoid process.
Question 4
The upper margin of the lungs is at the level of the:
A) Jugular notch
B) Vertebra prominens
C) Laryngeal prominence
D) Sternal angle
Rationale: The correct answer is A. The upper margin of the lungs (the apices) extends
approximately 2-3 cm above the clavicles. The jugular notch (at the level of T2-T3) serves as
a useful landmark for ensuring the apices are included on a chest radiograph .
Question 5
What is the name of the structure that serves as a common passageway for both food
and air?
A) Epiglottis
B) Larynx
C) Pharynx
D) Esophagus
Rationale: The correct answer is C. The pharynx serves as a common passageway for both
food and air . It connects the nasal and oral cavities to the larynx and esophagus. The
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epiglottis is a flap that covers the trachea during swallowing, but the pharynx is the shared
space.
Question 6
The jugular notch is located on the:
A) Sternum
B) Thyroid cartilage
C) Seventh cervical vertebra
D) Scapula
Rationale: The correct answer is A. The jugular notch (also called the suprasternal notch) is
located on the superior border of the sternum . It is a palpable landmark between the medial
ends of the clavicles.
Question 7
Which term refers to the imaginary line that divides the body into right and left halves?
A) Coronal plane
B) Sagittal plane
C) Transverse plane
D) Horizontal plane
Rationale: The correct answer is B. The sagittal plane divides the body into right and left
portions. The midsagittal plane divides the body into equal right and left halves. The coronal
plane divides the body into anterior and posterior portions.
Question 8
The term "anteroposterior" refers to the direction of the central ray from:
A) Back to front
B) Front to back
C) Right to left
D) Left to right
Rationale: The correct answer is B. Anteroposterior (AP) refers to the direction of the central
ray entering the anterior surface and exiting the posterior surface. Posteroanterior (PA) refers
to the central ray entering the posterior surface and exiting the anterior surface.
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Question 9
What is the correct position for a PA chest projection?
A) Patient facing the image receptor, central ray perpendicular to the image receptor
B) Patient facing away from the image receptor, central ray perpendicular to the image
receptor
C) Patient in lateral position, central ray horizontal
D) Patient in decubitus position, central ray horizontal
Rationale: The correct answer is A. In the PA chest projection, the patient faces the image
receptor with the back to the x-ray tube. The central ray is perpendicular to the image
receptor at the level of T7 (approximately the mid-thorax).
Question 10
The preferred projection for routine chest radiography in adults is:
A) AP
B) PA
C) Lateral
D) Oblique
Rationale: The correct answer is B. The PA projection is preferred for routine chest
radiography because it places the heart closer to the image receptor, reducing magnification
and providing a more accurate representation of cardiac size.
SECTION 2: CHEST AND BONY THORAX (Questions 11-50)
Question 11
The recommended SID for a routine PA chest radiograph is:
A) 40 inches (102 cm)
B) 56 inches (142 cm)
C) 72 inches (183 cm)
D) 48 inches (122 cm)
Rationale: The correct answer is C. A 72-inch (183 cm) SID is recommended for routine PA
chest radiography to minimize magnification of the heart. This is a standard distance used in
radiographic positioning.
