Introduction: The most available diagnostic method when presenting the anatomic structures of the lumbar spine is radiography. The standard radiographic examination used for the evaluation of the lumbar spinal region includes anteroposterior and lateral projection. If needed, the spinal imaging can be performed at different angles. It is essential that everything the lumbar spine protocol requires is presented. Purpose: The aim of the thesis is to demonstrate and assess the anatomic structures of the lumbar spine in AP and PA position, and the difference at the angle between the back and the grounding up to 45°, according to the radiography quality criterium. Methods: The first method used was descriptive, including an overview of Slovenian and foreign professional literature, obtained from the library of the Zdravstvena fakulteta in Ljubljana, and the Osrednja knjižnica Mozirje library, as well as sources online. The second method used was research work where we compared the demonstrations of anatomic structures of the lumbar spine when positioned at different angles with the help of the phantom. Results: The intervertebral space in the PA view is more open. The PA view shows more unified structures of the body at L1 and L2 compared to the AP view. With the extension of the angle comes an extended magnification of the left side, which is lifted more from the support in every following radiograph. The width of the vertebra changes with every imaging, the biggest deviation being at 10° and 30°. We discern that in the basic position the right spinous process is longer than the left one, the smallest difference between them being at 5° support. The sacroiliac joints begin to rotate. The rotation is also visible in cruciate ligaments which tend to move to the supported left side. The right SIS is overlapped in all radiographs and it is closed, while the left one opens up to 20°, then it overlaps and closes. The spinous process of the lumbar vertebrae, when supported, tends to move to the left side. Up to 30°, the spinous process is visible on the body of the vertebra; at a bigger angle, however, it is visible from the oblique view. Discussion and conclusion: The anatomic structures are shown differently even when dealing a small change in the position of the phantom or the angle. The increase of the angle between the support and the phantom causes bigger and bigger distortion of size and shape, the radiographs are not symmetrical anymore. The precise setting of the patient is important; by doing so, we reduce the radiation dose and enable the radiographs to be evaluated and read qualitatively.
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