ABDOMEN.

AP RADIOGRAPH OF THE ABDOMEN SHOULD SHOW:

Untitled Slide

• Lower border of symphysis pubis,
• Both abdominal walls (Flank stripes),
• Diaphragm (depends upon patient size and respiration),
• Lower ribs, Lower thoracic vertebrae, Lumbar vertebrae,
• Sacrum, Coccyx, Pelvic bones, pelvic cavities,
• Air-filled stomach and bowel segments.

AP RADIOGRAPH OF THE ABDOMEN

Four abdominal quadrants

• Four abdominal quadrants are used in radiography for:
• localising a particular organ, and describing the location of abdominal pain or other clinical symptoms.

NINE ABDOMINAL REGIONS

• Viscera occupy certain regions but vary due to following factors:
• Body build (habitus), Respiration phase, Patient posture; e.g. supine, Loss of tone of abdominal muscles, Pathology, Normal variants within population

NINE ABDOMINAL REGIONS

Patient positions for AXR: Supine versus Prone

Patient positions for AXR

Basic densities visible on plain AXR

Basic densities visible on plain AXR

Basic densities visible on plain AXR

Knowledge of normal anatomy allows us to distinguish the abnormal:
1.Most abdominal conditions detected because of alteration of normal gas pattern;
2.Discriminate between stomach, small bowel, and colon;
3.Soft tissues outlined by fat:
• Kidneys,Liver, Spleen,Liver edge,
Bladder (if full),
Flank stripes,And Psoas.

Classification of abdominal structures / organs on AXR:

AXR Image ANALYSIS of structures

Knowledge of normal anatomy allows us to distinguish the abnormal: