Radiology Reference Guide
Your skeleton gives your body structure and support. It is made of living
bone cells, living tissues, blood vessels, mineral deposits and water. Your skeleton
also protects delicate organs, stores important minerals and produces new blood
cells. Your bones are connected to each other with ligaments and tendons and
are moved with muscles. Places where bones meet are called joints and most of
these allow movement.
Although bones are very strong they often break or fracture. X-rays are
often used to identify broken bones so they can be repaired. An x-ray is a
picture taken of the bone on film using x-ray radiation. X-ray film is clear before
being exposed to x-rays. The x-ray radiation turns the film dark. The darkest
areas are where the most radiation hit the film. The whitest areas are where
the most x-rays were absorbed by the body and did not hit the film. Bones
absorb x-rays so they show up as white areas on the film. Sometimes a special
dye called a contrast is given to the patient to make soft tissues (blood vessels,
nerves, intestines, etc.) show up better.
The doctor who specializes in reading x-rays and other imaging media is
called a Radiologist. For the next few days YOU will be the radiologist. You will
be reading x-rays and studying them carefully. You will be responsible for making
the diagnosis that determines the treatment of your patient. The best thing of
all is that YOU (your secretary) get to bill your patients for your services.
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The Bones
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The Joints
FIXED cranium
PIVOT neck
HINGE fingers, mandible
BALL AND SOCKET
Shoulder
HINGE elbow
FIXED sacrum,
pelvis
GLIDING vertebrae, hands,
feet
BALL AND SOCKET- hips
HINGE knee
SWIVEL lower leg
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The X-Ray Files
Frontal Bone
Orbit
Nasal Cavity
Mandible
Parietal Bone
CRANIUM front view
Temporal
Bone
Occipital Bone
Mandible
CRANIUM lateral view
View
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The X-Ray Files
C1 Atlas
C2 Axis
Cervical Spine
C1 C7
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The X-Ray Files
T1
T2
T3
T4
T5
T6
T7
T8
T9
T10
T11
T12
Thoracic Spine T1 T12
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The X-Ray Files
Lumbar Spine L1 L5 and Sacrum
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The X-Ray Files
Clavicle
Sternum
Ribs
Scapula
Rib Cage and Sternum
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The X-Ray Files
Ilium
Ischium
Femur
Pelvic Girdle (Pelvis)
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The X-Ray Files
Humerus
Shoulder
and
Elbow
Radius
Ulna
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The X-Ray Files
Patella
Tibia
Fibula
Forearm and Lower Leg
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The X-Ray Files
The Hand
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The X-Ray Files
Wrist
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The X-Ray Files
The Foot
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The X-Ray Files
Ankle
And
Foot
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The X-Ray Files
AP view
Lateral view
The Knee
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The X-Ray Files - Fractures
A FRACTURE is a break in a bone. There are many different types:
Simple (Closed) fracture
- bone is broken but does not puncture the skin
Compound fracture
- bone is broken and punctures skin
Comminuted fracture
- bone is broken in 3 or more fragments
Greenstick fracture
- bone is bent and broken on one side only
Very common in soft bones of children
Hairline fracture
- bone is cracked along a thin, long line
Spiral fracture
- a break that circles around the bone
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The X-Ray Files Fractures
Torus fracture
- end of bone is compressed and buckles
common in soft bones of children
Salter Harris fracture
- bone is broken along the growth plate
Stress fracture
- bone is partially broken by
repeated stress.
Compression fracture
- bone is flattened out of shape
Plastic deformity
- bone is bent without any
visible break
Other injuries:
Dislocation
- bones are separated at the joint
Subluxation
- joints are not properly aligned
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The X-Ray Files - Trauma
Comminuted fracture
of radius
Compound fracture
of tibia and fibula
Greenstick fracture
of tibia
Salter Harris fracture
of ankle
Fracture of
humerus
Compression fracture
of hip
Torus fracture
Notice bump on ulna where force
Has caused bone to buckle
Dislocated neck
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The X-Ray Files
Internal Fixation of Fibula
Before/After Surgery
Fusion of unstable cervical vertebra
Internal Fixation of Clavicle
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The X-Ray Files After Surgery
Radius and Ulna with elastic
nail hardware
Tibia / Fibula with hardware
Pelvis with hardware
Spinal Fusion hardware
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The X-Ray Files
Osteoarthritis
Bone Disease
Rheumatoid Arthritis
in Hands
Bone Cancer in Skull
Blount Disease (bowed knees)
affecting the Tibia
Osteoarthritis in Spine
Bone Cancer
In Femur
Gout (soft tissue swelling)
affecting the Great Toes
Pagets Disease
with fracture to
Humerus
Frostbite to
Fingers
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The X-Ray Files
Fun Page
How am I
Doing, Doc?
How many broken,
diseased, damaged,
dislocated and
otherwise messed up
parts can you find?
