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.