Ribs: Radiographic Anatomy - Video Lesson

Hey, everybody. Welcome to today's lesson to review radiographic anatomy, demonstrated on routine projections of the ribs. In a previous lesson, we discussed the anatomy of the ribs and which radiographic projections are routinely performed. So let's tie that information to the radiographs themselves. As a reminder, the routine radiographic projections of the ribs are AP or PA above or below the diaphragm and AP or PA obliques above or below the diaphragm. Let's start with the first image. What projection is being demonstrated here? Let's take a look. This is an AP projection of the bilateral ribs above the diaphragm. For AP ribs above the diaphragm, the image should be taken on suspended inspiration to visualize ribs one through nine. If the patient is unable to take a deep breath due to injury, only eight ribs may be visible. If the image is a true AP, the width of the ribs should be equidistant on both sides of the thoracic spine.