CAMRT Radiography Practice Exam

What position demonstrates the apices of the lungs without superimposing the clavicles?

1. Lateral

2. Lordotic

3. Supine

4. Prone

The correct answer is: Lordotic

The lordotic position is specifically designed to demonstrate the apices of the lungs while minimizing the superimposition of the clavicles over those structures. In this position, the patient is typically leaning backward, which elevates the upper part of the thorax and allows the clavicles to be positioned out of the way of the lung apices on the radiographic image. This technique provides a clearer view of the apices, which is particularly important for assessing conditions such as apical pneumonia or lung tumors. In contrast, other positions such as the lateral, supine, and prone do not effectively achieve the same clarity for the lung apices. The lateral position focuses on the side of the chest and is useful for viewing the lungs' silhouette but does not specifically isolate the apices from the clavicular shadow. The supine and prone positions typically result in the clavicles superimposing the upper lung fields, as they do not provide the necessary angling of the thorax to elevate the clavicles away from the apices.