Purpose and Techniques
Comprehensive Questions
(Frequently Tested) with
Verified Answers Graded A+
Radiopaque Structures - Answer: Dense structures. Allow less radiant energy to pass through.
Electrons reach receptor with less energy. Results in white (light) image.
Radiolucent Structures - Answer: Less dense structures. Allow radiant energy to pass through.
Electrons reach image receptor with high energy, causing dark image.
Mandible - Answer: Single bone of lower jaw. Radiopaque.
Maxilla - Answer: Two bones that form upper jaw and part of palate. Joined at midline by the
maxillary suture. Radiopaque.
Ramus - Answer: Vertical portion at each end of mandible. Radiopaque.
Body of mandible - Answer: Curved portion of mandible that connects rami. Radiopaque.
, Condyle of mandible - Answer: Ball-like top of ramus which forms the hinge between temporal
bone and mandible. Part of TMJ. Appears in extraoral images. Radiopaque.
Midsagittal Plane - Answer: midline, divides the body into equal left and right halves
Orbit - Answer: Eye cavity, extraoral images. Radiolucent.
Frankfort Plane - Answer: Imaginary line from bottom of eye socket to the ear canal.
Inverted Y - Answer: Junction of lateral wall of nasal fossa and wall of maxillary sinus. Above
maxillary canine. Radiopaque.
Maxillary Sinus - Answer: Air-filled cavity above maxillary premolar and molars. Radiolucent,
outline radiopaque.
Nutrient Canals - Answer: Passageways through bone that supply teeth. Called pulp tissue once
they enter tooth. Radiolucent vertical lines.
Internal Oblique Ridge - Answer: Line of bone on internal aspect of mandible. Near apices of
molars. Radiopaque band may run parallel to external oblique ridge.
Mandibular Canal - Answer: Passageway through bone extending length of mandible for inferior
alveolar nerve. Radiolucent band outlined by two radiopaque lines (cortical bone lining).
External Oblique Ridge - Answer: Radiopaque band near crown of mandibular molars. Line of
bone on external aspect of mandible.
Alveolar Ridge - Answer: Bony ridge that contains alveoli (tooth sockets). Radiopaque.