Small Animal Skull Chapter 15
Jan 06, 2016
Small Animal Skull
Chapter 15
Skull
Positioning is vital.May have to sedate patient.Remove endotracheal tubeKey is precision and symmetryDifferences among species and breeds
Anatomy of the Skull
Lateral View
Patient in lateral recumbency with affected side of the skull toward the cassette.
Nasal septum should be parallel to the surface of the cassette.
Mandibular rami should be superimposed.View should include entire head from the
tip of the nose to the base of the skull.
Dorsoventral View
Patient is in sternal recumbency with head resting on cassette.
Front limbs can be in natural position but not in x-ray beam.
May need to put gentle pressure on cervical region or place tape over cranium so that it will remain in desired position.
View should include entire head from tip pf the nose to base of the skull.
Ventrodorsal View
Patient is placed in dorsal recumbency.Front limbs are extended caudally and
secured.Nose must remain parallel to cassette.View should include entire head from the
tip of the nose to the base of the skull.
Rostrocaudal View of Frontal SinusesPatient is in dorsal recumbency with nose
pointing upward.Front legs should be pulled caudally alongside
the body.May need to tie nose in place.Frontal sinuses should be centered on the
cassette.View should include entire forehead of patient.Collimator should be aimed perpendicularly to
the cassette and centered between the eyes.
Cranium Rostrocaudal view
Dorsal recumbency with nose pointing upward and the front limbs pulled caudally.
Similar to frontal sinus view but nose is directed slightly in a caudal direction (10-15 degrees).
Careful with any endotracheal tube on this view.Cranium should be centered on the cassette.View should include entire cranium.
Nasal Cavity- Ventrodorsal Open-mouth view
Patient is in dorsal recumbency with legs extended caudally.
Maxilla remians parallel with the cassette and mouth is held open by tape or gauze.
X-ray tube should be angled 10-15 degrees so that beam is directed into the mouth.
Nasal cavity should be centered on the cassette.View should include the entire maxilla from the
tip of the nose to the pharyngeal region.
Tympanic Bullae-Rostrocaudal Open-mouth view
Patient is placed in dorsal recumbency.Nose pointing upward and legs pulled
caudally alongside the body.Mouth is tied or propped open. Nose is pulled cranially 5-10 degreesView should include the entire
nasopharyngeal region of the skull.
Tympanic Bullae-Lateral oblique view
Patient is placed in lateral recumbencyUnaffected bullae toward cassette.Skull will lay in slightly oblique position.
Temporomandibular Joint-Ventrodorsal Obique View
Patient is in lateral recumbency with affected side toward cassette.
Cranium is rotated approximately 20 degrees toward cassette and held in position.
Can be with mouth opened or closed
Maxilla- Dorsoventral Intraoral View
Patient is placed in sternal recumbency.Film is placed in mouthHave to adjust settings as SID has
changed.Now with advent of intraoral radiograph
machines, this type of view is less likely on standard machines.
Maxilla- Upper Dental Arcade
Patient is placed halfway on back with maxillary arcade closest to the cassette.
Head is rotated approximately 45 degrees to the cassette.
Mouth should be maintained in open position.
Again new dental machines make this view more rare on standard equipment.
Mandible- Ventrodorsal View
Patient is in dorsal recumbency.Head is extended in cranial position.Film is placed in mouth as before.Adjust SID as before.
Mandible- Lower Dental Arcade
Dorsoventral oblique view.Patient in lateral recumbency with affected
mandible closest to cassette.
Teeth
Will discuss more in depth when we get to dental and intraoral radiographs.
Most accurate way of visualizing teeth.Patient is in lateral recumbency with
unaffected side to the table and affected side up.
Film is inserted into the mouth.