RADIOGRAPHIC POSITIONING AND
RELATED ANATOMY
11TH EDITION
• AUTHOR(S)JOHN P. LAMPIGNANO
TEST BANK
1. Reference
Ch. 1 — Terminology, Positioning, and Imaging Principles
— Positioning Terminology
Question Stem
A hospitalized patient must be imaged for a lateral chest
radiograph but cannot stand. Which positioning term best
describes placing the patient on the affected side with the x-ray
beam horizontal to demonstrate air-fluid levels?
Options (A–D)
A. AP supine
B. Right lateral decubitus
C. Dorsal decubitus
D. Trendelenburg
,Correct Answer
B
Rationales
Correct: Right lateral decubitus places the patient on the right
side with a horizontal beam, making air-fluid levels visible on
the left lateral surface. This term matches standard decubitus
positioning.
A: AP supine is done lying on the back; the beam is vertical and
does not describe a side-lying decubitus.
C: Dorsal decubitus indicates lying on the back with a horizontal
beam — not side-lying.
D: Trendelenburg refers to head-down tilt for patient
stabilization — not side-lying for air-fluid demonstration.
Teaching Point
Decubitus = patient lies on side; horizontal beam demonstrates
air-fluid levels.
Citation
Lampignano, J. P. (2024). Textbook of Radiographic Positioning
and Related Anatomy (11th Ed.). Ch. 1.
2. Reference
Ch. 1 — Terminology, Positioning, and Imaging Principles
— Positioning Terminology
Question Stem
You are instructed to perform an oblique projection of the
,lumbar spine. Which statement correctly explains what
“oblique” indicates for patient and CR orientation?
Options (A–D)
A. Patient lies supine; CR rotates 90° from midline.
B. Patient/part rotated so midsagittal plane forms an angle with
IR; CR remains perpendicular or angled as required.
C. Patient stands and CR is horizontal to the floor.
D. Patient lies prone with CR angled cephalad only.
Correct Answer
B
Rationales
Correct: “Oblique” refers to rotating the patient or part so that
a sagittal or coronal plane is no longer parallel/perpendicular to
the IR; the CR may be perpendicular or angled depending on
the projection.
A: Routine descriptions don’t require supine position nor a strict
90° CR rotation.
C: Standing and horizontal CR describe an AP/PA lateral beam,
not the definition of oblique.
D: Prone with cephalad angulation is specific and does not
define the general oblique concept.
Teaching Point
Oblique = rotate patient/part off primary planes; CR orientation
depends on the projection.
, Citation
Lampignano, J. P. (2024). Textbook of Radiographic Positioning
and Related Anatomy (11th Ed.). Ch. 1.
3. Reference
Ch. 1 — Terminology, Positioning, and Imaging Principles
— Positioning Terminology
Question Stem
A tech documents that an image was taken in the “supine AP”
position. Which anatomic relationship does this description
communicate to a reviewing radiographer?
Options (A–D)
A. Patient on abdomen; beam enters posteriorly.
B. Patient on back; beam enters anterior surface and exits
posteriorly.
C. Patient upright; beam directed cephalad.
D. Patient in lateral decubitus with CR horizontal.
Correct Answer
B
Rationales
Correct: “Supine AP” means the patient is on the back (supine)
and the beam enters the anterior surface (AP) and exits
posteriorly. This clarifies orientation for image interpretation.
A: That describes prone or PA imaging with beam entering
posteriorly.
RELATED ANATOMY
11TH EDITION
• AUTHOR(S)JOHN P. LAMPIGNANO
TEST BANK
1. Reference
Ch. 1 — Terminology, Positioning, and Imaging Principles
— Positioning Terminology
Question Stem
A hospitalized patient must be imaged for a lateral chest
radiograph but cannot stand. Which positioning term best
describes placing the patient on the affected side with the x-ray
beam horizontal to demonstrate air-fluid levels?
Options (A–D)
A. AP supine
B. Right lateral decubitus
C. Dorsal decubitus
D. Trendelenburg
,Correct Answer
B
Rationales
Correct: Right lateral decubitus places the patient on the right
side with a horizontal beam, making air-fluid levels visible on
the left lateral surface. This term matches standard decubitus
positioning.
A: AP supine is done lying on the back; the beam is vertical and
does not describe a side-lying decubitus.
C: Dorsal decubitus indicates lying on the back with a horizontal
beam — not side-lying.
D: Trendelenburg refers to head-down tilt for patient
stabilization — not side-lying for air-fluid demonstration.
Teaching Point
Decubitus = patient lies on side; horizontal beam demonstrates
air-fluid levels.
Citation
Lampignano, J. P. (2024). Textbook of Radiographic Positioning
and Related Anatomy (11th Ed.). Ch. 1.
2. Reference
Ch. 1 — Terminology, Positioning, and Imaging Principles
— Positioning Terminology
Question Stem
You are instructed to perform an oblique projection of the
,lumbar spine. Which statement correctly explains what
“oblique” indicates for patient and CR orientation?
Options (A–D)
A. Patient lies supine; CR rotates 90° from midline.
B. Patient/part rotated so midsagittal plane forms an angle with
IR; CR remains perpendicular or angled as required.
C. Patient stands and CR is horizontal to the floor.
D. Patient lies prone with CR angled cephalad only.
Correct Answer
B
Rationales
Correct: “Oblique” refers to rotating the patient or part so that
a sagittal or coronal plane is no longer parallel/perpendicular to
the IR; the CR may be perpendicular or angled depending on
the projection.
A: Routine descriptions don’t require supine position nor a strict
90° CR rotation.
C: Standing and horizontal CR describe an AP/PA lateral beam,
not the definition of oblique.
D: Prone with cephalad angulation is specific and does not
define the general oblique concept.
Teaching Point
Oblique = rotate patient/part off primary planes; CR orientation
depends on the projection.
, Citation
Lampignano, J. P. (2024). Textbook of Radiographic Positioning
and Related Anatomy (11th Ed.). Ch. 1.
3. Reference
Ch. 1 — Terminology, Positioning, and Imaging Principles
— Positioning Terminology
Question Stem
A tech documents that an image was taken in the “supine AP”
position. Which anatomic relationship does this description
communicate to a reviewing radiographer?
Options (A–D)
A. Patient on abdomen; beam enters posteriorly.
B. Patient on back; beam enters anterior surface and exits
posteriorly.
C. Patient upright; beam directed cephalad.
D. Patient in lateral decubitus with CR horizontal.
Correct Answer
B
Rationales
Correct: “Supine AP” means the patient is on the back (supine)
and the beam enters the anterior surface (AP) and exits
posteriorly. This clarifies orientation for image interpretation.
A: That describes prone or PA imaging with beam entering
posteriorly.
