basic x ray

What to see from an x  ray film :

• Check for name, age of patient
• Check type of x ray : PA/AP/Supine/Lateral
• Spine : central , any fracture?
• Bones and ribs : any fracture
• mediastinal contours
• Trachea : should be central
• Aortic arch , left pulmonary artery
• Heart  : two thirds of heart lies on the left of the chest, one third on the right. The heart should take up no more than half on the thoracic cavity ( if yes : cardiomegaly ). 

1. Left border of the heart is made up by the left atrium and left ventricle. 
2. Right border is made up by the right atrium alone. Above he right heart border lies the edge of the superior vena cava
   

• Pulmonary arteries and main bronchi : arise at the left and right hila . Bulky hilum maybe due to enlarged lymph nodes or tumours
• Lungs : should be black ( if pneumothorax : sharp line of the edge of the lung)
• Diaphragm : 

1. check for surface of hemidraphragms curving downwards
   
2. check for costophrenic angle : if blunted : effusion

• Soft tissue : any injury