ARRT category · 7% of exam
Head, Spine, and Pelvis Procedures
Tests positioning for the cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spine, the bony thorax, the skull, paranasal sinuses, and the pelvis. Includes Caldwell, Towne, Waters, SMV, and the Scotty Dog. Approximately 7% of the ARRT exam.
Sample question
One free question from the 68-question Head, Spine, and Pelvis bank. Read it, pick your answer, then expand the rationale.
A 45° posterior oblique projection of the lumbar spine demonstrates the Scotty Dog pattern. A defect appearing as a 'collar' on the dog's neck represents which of the following pathologies?
Show answer and full rationale
Correct answer: B. Spondylolysis (defect of the pars interarticularis)
A, Incorrect: Spondylolisthesis is forward slippage of one vertebra on another, best assessed on lateral imaging.
B, Correct: Correct. The Scotty Dog's neck represents the pars interarticularis. A 'collar' on the neck indicates spondylolysis, a defect or fracture of the pars. This finding is pathognomonic on the 45° lumbar oblique.
C, Incorrect: Disk herniation is not directly visible on plain radiographs and requires MRI for diagnosis.
D, Incorrect: Compression fractures involve loss of vertebral body height and are best demonstrated on lateral views.
Topics tested in this category
- Cervical spine routines and trauma
- Open-mouth odontoid (C1, C2, dens)
- AP axial cervical (15–20° cephalic)
- Lumbar oblique (45°) and the Scotty Dog
- Thoracic spine and breathing technique
- Skull workhorses: Caldwell, Towne, Waters, SMV
- Paranasal sinus four-view series
- Erect/horizontal beam rule
- Pelvis and femoral neck (15–20° internal rotation)
Drill the full 68-question bank.
Free tier includes 50 mixed-category questions. Premium unlocks all 1,814 ARRT-style questions, 3 timed mock exams, and adaptive drill sessions in this category.
Frequently asked questions
How many Head, Spine, and Pelvis questions are on the ARRT Radiography Boards?
The Head, Spine, and Pelvis Procedures category accounts for approximately 7% of the ARRT Radiography Boards exam, that's roughly 14 of the 200 scored questions on each administration. The full Radtechprepper practice bank contains 68 questions in this category, giving you ample room to drill until the patterns are second nature.
What topics are tested in the Head, Spine, and Pelvis category?
The Head, Spine, and Pelvis category tests: Cervical spine routines and trauma; Open-mouth odontoid (C1, C2, dens); AP axial cervical (15–20° cephalic); Lumbar oblique (45°) and the Scotty Dog; Thoracic spine and breathing technique. The full topic list is in the ARRT Radiography Content Specifications 2025.
How should I study for the Head, Spine, and Pelvis category?
Start with the chapter overviews in this curriculum that map to Head, Spine, and Pelvis, they cover the core concepts in plain English. Then drill questions in the practice bank, pause on every miss, read the rationale, and re-drill the same topic the next day. The ARRT exam rewards spaced repetition more than cram studying.