Humerus X-ray positioning
How to position for each of the 4 humerus X-ray views: where the patient goes, where to centre, which receptor and distance to use, and what a good image looks like.
By the ScanFlo Editorial Team · Updated
In this section · X-ray positioning
- X-ray positioning guides
- Skull positioning
- Face & sinuses positioning
- Soft tissue neck positioning
- C-spine positioning
- Chest positioning
- Shoulder positioning
- Humerus positioning
- Elbow positioning
- Forearm positioning
- Wrist positioning
- Hand positioning
- T-spine positioning
- Abdomen positioning
- L-spine positioning
- Sacrum & SI joints positioning
- Pelvis positioning
- Hip positioning
- Femur positioning
- Knee positioning
- Tibia & fibula positioning
- Ankle positioning
- Foot positioning
X-ray positioning/Humerus
The routine humerus views are Humerus AP and Humerus lateral. Humerus AP (after injury) and Humerus lateral (after injury) come in when you need to answer a particular question, or when the patient can't manage a routine view. Each guide walks you through the set-up step by step, with a short video, exposure settings for different patient sizes and what a good image should show.
A radiographer is still checking these guides.
Routine views
Extra views
All views in this region
- Humerus AP
- Humerus lateral
- Humerus AP (after injury)
- Humerus lateral (after injury)
Quick reference
Where to centre, how far and which receptor, for every humerus view at a glance. Open a guide for the full set-up.
| Projection | Centre on | SID | Receptor | Breathing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Humerus AP | the mid-shaft | 100 cm | 18×43 portrait | Suspend respiration |
| Humerus lateral | the mid-shaft | 100 cm | 18×43 portrait | Suspend respiration |
| Humerus AP (after injury) | the mid-shaft | 110 cm | 18×43 portrait, grid | Suspend respiration |
| Humerus lateral (after injury) | the mid-shaft | 110 cm | 18×43 portrait, grid | Suspend respiration |
Mistakes that lead to repeats
- Elbow cut off on the humerus AP: include both joints.
- Not a true lateral on the humerus lateral: rotate fully, palm down.
- Overlap with ribs on the humerus lateral (after injury): turn the trunk to clear the ribs.
Common questions
- Which humerus views are routine?
- Usually Humerus AP and Humerus lateral.
- What distance (SID) do humerus X-rays use?
- Anywhere from 100 to 110 cm, depending on the view. Each guide gives the exact figure.
- Do humerus X-rays need a grid?
- Only Humerus AP (after injury) and Humerus lateral (after injury) need one; the rest are taken without a grid.
Try it in ScanFlo: the ScanFlo XR X-ray Room, coming soon, lets you set up every humerus projection in a 3D room and score your positioning. See ScanFlo XR →