X-ray positioning guides

The X-ray views a radiographer takes every day, and the ones you need now and then. For each one: how to place the patient, where to centre, which receptor and distance to use, and what a good image looks like, with a short video of the set-up.

By the ScanFlo Editorial Team · Updated 3 October 2026

In this section · X-ray positioning

127X-ray views, each one walked through step by step with a short video of the set-up. You'll see where the patient goes, where to centre, which distance and receptor to use, sensible exposures for different patient sizes, and what a good image should show. Pick a region to start.

Head & neck

Skull, facial bones, sinuses and the soft-tissue neck: angled beams and baselines decide whether the anatomy lines up.

Skull →6 projections: Skull lateral (horizontal beam), Skull PA, Mastoid lateral (Schüller)…Face & sinuses →8 projections: Mandible oblique lateral, Mandible PA, Nasal bones lateral…Soft tissue neck →2 projections: Neck soft tissue lateral, Neck soft tissue AP

Spine

Level-by-level centring and true laterals: the series a reporting radiologist counts vertebrae on.

C-spine →9 projections: Cervical spine AP, Cervical spine lateral, Cervical spine AP (after injury)…T-spine →4 projections: Thoracic spine AP, Thoracic spine lateral, Thoracolumbar spine AP…L-spine →6 projections: Lumbar spine AP, Lumbar spine lateral, Lumbosacral junction lateral…Sacrum & SI joints →3 projections: Sacrum AP and sacroiliac joints, Coccyx AP, Sacrum and coccyx lateral

Chest & abdomen

The highest-volume radiographs: inspiration, rotation and collimation make or break them.

Chest →13 projections: Chest AP erect (infant), Chest AP supine (infant), Chest lateral erect…Abdomen →10 projections: Abdomen AP erect (acute abdomen), Abdomen AP erect (infant), Abdomen AP supine…

Upper limb

Small parts on the tabletop: the limb is turned for each view, not the tube.

Shoulder →8 projections: Clavicle AP (two angled views), Scapula AP, Scapula lateral…Humerus →4 projections: Humerus AP, Humerus lateral, Humerus AP (after injury)…Elbow →3 projections: Elbow AP, Elbow lateral, Elbow AP semiflexed (after injury)Forearm →2 projections: Forearm AP, Forearm lateral Wrist →5 projections: Wrist lateral, Wrist PA, Scaphoid series (after injury)…Hand →8 projections: Finger PA, Hand PA, Single finger lateral…

Pelvis & hip

Leg rotation and centring between the hips or on the joint itself.

Pelvis →5 projections: Pelvis and hips AP (infant), Pelvis AP, Urinary bladder and inner pelvis AP…Hip →5 projections: Hip AP, Hip lateral (turned), Hip lateral (horizontal beam)…

Lower limb

Weight-bearing and non-weight-bearing views where joint space and alignment matter.

Femur →3 projections: Femur AP, Femur lateral, Femur lateral (after injury)Knee →6 projections: Knee AP, Knee lateral, Knee intercondylar (tunnel)…Tibia & fibula →3 projections: Lower leg AP, Lower leg lateral, Lower leg lateral (horizontal beam)Ankle →4 projections: Ankle internal oblique (mortise), Ankle lateral, Ankle AP…Foot →10 projections: Foot AP (dorsiplantar), Foot PA oblique, Heel lateral…

Start where the volume is: most departments take more chest X-rays than anything else, so the chest PA guide is a good first read.

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