BONTRAGER 2026 EXAMINATION SET QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS GUARANTEE A+
✔✔The spinal cord begins with the ___ of the brain and extends down to the ___
vertebra, where it tapers and ends. This tapered ending is called the ___. - ✔✔Medulla
Oblongata;
Lower border of L1;
Conus Medullaris
✔✔Which structures pass through the intervertebral foramina? - ✔✔Spinal nerves and
blood vessels
✔✔Which of the following is found between the superior and inferior articular
processes?
a.) Intervertebral joints
b.) Articular joints
c.) Zygapophyseal joints
d.) Intervertebral facets - ✔✔c.) Zygapophyseal joints
✔✔True/False
Only T1, T11, and T12 have full facets for articulation with ribs - ✔✔True
✔✔True/False
The zygapophyseal joints of all cervical vertebrae are visualized only in a true lateral
position - ✔✔False
(Between C1 & C2 visualized on frontal or AP projection)
✔✔List the outer and inner aspects of the intertebral disks - ✔✔Outer aspect: Annulus
fibrosus
Inner aspect: Nucleus pulposus
✔✔The condition involving a "slipped disk" is correctly referred to as - ✔✔HNP-
Herniated Nucleus Pulposus
✔✔List the alternative names for the following cervical vertebrae:
C1
C2
C7 - ✔✔C1: atlas
C2: axis
C7: Vertebra prominens
✔✔List three features that make the cervical vertebrae unique - ✔✔Transverse formina
Bifid spinous process
Overlapping vertebral bodies
,✔✔A short column of bone found between the superior and articular processes in a
typical cervical vertebra is called:
What is the term for the same structure, for the C1 vertebra? - ✔✔Articular pillar
Lateral mass
✔✔The zygapophyseal joints for the 2nd through 7th cervical vertebrae are at a ___*
angle to the midsagittal plane; the thoracic vertebrae are at a ___* angle to the
midsagittal plane. - ✔✔90*; 70-75*
✔✔What is the name of the joint found between the superior articular processes of C1
and the occipital condyles of the skull? - ✔✔Occipitoatlantal articulations
✔✔The modified body of C2 is called the ___ or ___. - ✔✔Dens or Odontoid process
✔✔A lack of symmetry of the zygapophyseal joints between C1 and C2 may be caused
by injury or may be associated with: - ✔✔Rotation of the skull
✔✔What is the unique feature of all thoracic vertebrae that distinguishes them from
other vertebrae? - ✔✔Presence of facets for articulation with ribs
✔✔Which specific thoracic vertebrae are classified as typical thoracic vertebrae (ie, they
least resemble cervical or lumbar vertebrae)? - ✔✔T5-T8
✔✔For the CR to pass through and "open" the intervertebral spaces on a 45* posterior
oblique projection of the cervical vertebrae, what CR angle (if any) is required? - ✔✔15*
cephalad
✔✔Name the following parts of the sternum or associated topographic landmarks.
Upper portion of sternum:
Superior margin of this upper section (landmark):
Center portion of sternum:
Joint between top and center portion (landmark):
Most inferior aspect of sternum (landmark): - ✔✔Upper portion of sternum: Manubrium
Superior margin of this upper section (landmark): Jugular (suprasternal) notch
Center portion of sternum: Body
Joint between top and center portion (landmark): Sternal angle
Most inferior aspect of sternum (landmark): Xiphoid process
✔✔Match the following topographic landmarks to the correct vertebral level
Gonion
Xiphoid process (tip)
Thyroid cartilage
Jugular notch
, Sternal angle
Mastoid tip
Vertebra prominens
3-4in below jugular notch - ✔✔Gonion- C3
Xiphoid process (tip)- T9-T10
Thyroid cartilage- C4-C6
Jugular notch- T2-T3
Sternal angle-T4-T5
Mastoid tip- C1
Vertebra prominens- C7-T1
3-4in below jugular notch- T7
✔✔In addition to the gonads, which other radiosensitive organs are of greatest concern
during cervical and thoracic spine radiography? - ✔✔Thyroid, parathyroid glands, and
breast
✔✔List the 2 advantages of using higher kV exposure factors (analog imaging) for spine
radiography, especially on an anteroposterior (AP) thoracic radiograph. - ✔✔Increase in
exposure latitude (wider range of densities)
Decrease in patient dose
✔✔True/False
When using digital imaging for spine radiography, it is important to use close
collimation, grids, and lead masking. - ✔✔True
✔✔True/False
If close collimation is used during conventional (analog) radiography of the spine, the
use of lead masking (blockers) is generally not required - ✔✔False
Lead masking should be used even if close collimation is used
✔✔True/ False
To a certain degree, MRI and CT are replacing myelography as the imaging modalities
of choice for the diagnosis of a ruptured intervertebral disk - ✔✔True
✔✔True/False
Nuclear Medicine is often performed to diagnose bone tumors of the spine - ✔✔True
✔✔To ensure that the intervertebral joint spaces are open for lateral thoracic spine
projections, it is important to:
a.) Keep the vertebral column parallel to the IR
b.) use a small focal spot
c.) Use a breathing technique
d.) Angle the CR caudad - ✔✔a.) Keep the vertebral column parallel to the IR
ANSWERS GUARANTEE A+
✔✔The spinal cord begins with the ___ of the brain and extends down to the ___
vertebra, where it tapers and ends. This tapered ending is called the ___. - ✔✔Medulla
Oblongata;
Lower border of L1;
Conus Medullaris
✔✔Which structures pass through the intervertebral foramina? - ✔✔Spinal nerves and
blood vessels
✔✔Which of the following is found between the superior and inferior articular
processes?
a.) Intervertebral joints
b.) Articular joints
c.) Zygapophyseal joints
d.) Intervertebral facets - ✔✔c.) Zygapophyseal joints
✔✔True/False
Only T1, T11, and T12 have full facets for articulation with ribs - ✔✔True
✔✔True/False
The zygapophyseal joints of all cervical vertebrae are visualized only in a true lateral
position - ✔✔False
(Between C1 & C2 visualized on frontal or AP projection)
✔✔List the outer and inner aspects of the intertebral disks - ✔✔Outer aspect: Annulus
fibrosus
Inner aspect: Nucleus pulposus
✔✔The condition involving a "slipped disk" is correctly referred to as - ✔✔HNP-
Herniated Nucleus Pulposus
✔✔List the alternative names for the following cervical vertebrae:
C1
C2
C7 - ✔✔C1: atlas
C2: axis
C7: Vertebra prominens
✔✔List three features that make the cervical vertebrae unique - ✔✔Transverse formina
Bifid spinous process
Overlapping vertebral bodies
,✔✔A short column of bone found between the superior and articular processes in a
typical cervical vertebra is called:
What is the term for the same structure, for the C1 vertebra? - ✔✔Articular pillar
Lateral mass
✔✔The zygapophyseal joints for the 2nd through 7th cervical vertebrae are at a ___*
angle to the midsagittal plane; the thoracic vertebrae are at a ___* angle to the
midsagittal plane. - ✔✔90*; 70-75*
✔✔What is the name of the joint found between the superior articular processes of C1
and the occipital condyles of the skull? - ✔✔Occipitoatlantal articulations
✔✔The modified body of C2 is called the ___ or ___. - ✔✔Dens or Odontoid process
✔✔A lack of symmetry of the zygapophyseal joints between C1 and C2 may be caused
by injury or may be associated with: - ✔✔Rotation of the skull
✔✔What is the unique feature of all thoracic vertebrae that distinguishes them from
other vertebrae? - ✔✔Presence of facets for articulation with ribs
✔✔Which specific thoracic vertebrae are classified as typical thoracic vertebrae (ie, they
least resemble cervical or lumbar vertebrae)? - ✔✔T5-T8
✔✔For the CR to pass through and "open" the intervertebral spaces on a 45* posterior
oblique projection of the cervical vertebrae, what CR angle (if any) is required? - ✔✔15*
cephalad
✔✔Name the following parts of the sternum or associated topographic landmarks.
Upper portion of sternum:
Superior margin of this upper section (landmark):
Center portion of sternum:
Joint between top and center portion (landmark):
Most inferior aspect of sternum (landmark): - ✔✔Upper portion of sternum: Manubrium
Superior margin of this upper section (landmark): Jugular (suprasternal) notch
Center portion of sternum: Body
Joint between top and center portion (landmark): Sternal angle
Most inferior aspect of sternum (landmark): Xiphoid process
✔✔Match the following topographic landmarks to the correct vertebral level
Gonion
Xiphoid process (tip)
Thyroid cartilage
Jugular notch
, Sternal angle
Mastoid tip
Vertebra prominens
3-4in below jugular notch - ✔✔Gonion- C3
Xiphoid process (tip)- T9-T10
Thyroid cartilage- C4-C6
Jugular notch- T2-T3
Sternal angle-T4-T5
Mastoid tip- C1
Vertebra prominens- C7-T1
3-4in below jugular notch- T7
✔✔In addition to the gonads, which other radiosensitive organs are of greatest concern
during cervical and thoracic spine radiography? - ✔✔Thyroid, parathyroid glands, and
breast
✔✔List the 2 advantages of using higher kV exposure factors (analog imaging) for spine
radiography, especially on an anteroposterior (AP) thoracic radiograph. - ✔✔Increase in
exposure latitude (wider range of densities)
Decrease in patient dose
✔✔True/False
When using digital imaging for spine radiography, it is important to use close
collimation, grids, and lead masking. - ✔✔True
✔✔True/False
If close collimation is used during conventional (analog) radiography of the spine, the
use of lead masking (blockers) is generally not required - ✔✔False
Lead masking should be used even if close collimation is used
✔✔True/ False
To a certain degree, MRI and CT are replacing myelography as the imaging modalities
of choice for the diagnosis of a ruptured intervertebral disk - ✔✔True
✔✔True/False
Nuclear Medicine is often performed to diagnose bone tumors of the spine - ✔✔True
✔✔To ensure that the intervertebral joint spaces are open for lateral thoracic spine
projections, it is important to:
a.) Keep the vertebral column parallel to the IR
b.) use a small focal spot
c.) Use a breathing technique
d.) Angle the CR caudad - ✔✔a.) Keep the vertebral column parallel to the IR
