CAMRT Radiography Practice Exam

In an AP axial cervical spine projection, what adjustment should be made if the intervertebral disk spaces are not open?

1. Decrease CR angle to 5 degrees

2. Increase CR angle to 15 degrees

3. Adjust the central ray center point

4. Rotate the patient's head

The correct answer is: Increase CR angle to 15 degrees

In an AP axial cervical spine projection, the goal is to achieve open intervertebral disk spaces, which allows for better visualization and assessment. If these spaces are not appearing open on the radiograph, increasing the central ray angle is typically necessary. By increasing the central ray angle to 15 degrees—specifically aimed at the cervical spine—you're effectively minimizing the angulation of the vertebrae relative to the X-ray beam. This adjustment helps to better align the beam with the intervertebral foramen, allowing the disk spaces to be viewed more clearly. An increased angle compensates for any existing curvature and promotes separation between the disks that may be overlapping due to anatomical positioning. The other methods listed don't offer the same corrective functionality. Adjusting the central ray center point or rotating the patient's head may not directly affect the angle of projection and therefore would likely not achieve the desired result of opening the intervertebral spaces.