ARRT subcategory · 9% of scored exam
Head, Spine, and Pelvis Procedures
Covers positioning for the skull, facial bones, mandible, TMJs, nasal bones, orbits, paranasal sinuses, the cervical, thoracic and lumbar spine, the sacrum and coccyx, SI joints, the pelvis, and the hip. Includes Caldwell, Towne, Waters, SMV, and the lumbar obliques that textbooks call the Scottie dog. ARRT files ribs and sternum under Thorax and Abdomen.
18 of 200 scored questions under the 2022 content specification, in force through 28 February 2027. From 1 March 2027, the 2027 content specification lists 20 of 200.
Sample question
A free sample question, written for this page, like those in the 256-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 Scottie dog pattern. A defect at 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. Bontrager lists AP and lateral lumbar spine and CT for it.
B, Correct: Correct. The Scottie dog's neck is the pars interarticularis. A defect there is spondylolysis.
C, Incorrect: This is a disk problem, for which Bontrager lists AP and lateral lumbar spine, CT and MRI.
D, Incorrect: Compression fractures involve loss of vertebral body height, not a pars defect.
Topics to study in this subcategory
Our study list, in common study terms where those differ from ARRT's. ARRT's content outline is the official list.
- Cervical spine routines and trauma
- Open-mouth odontoid (C1, C2, dens)
- AP axial cervical (15–20° cephalic)
- Lumbar oblique (45°) and the Scottie dog
- Thoracic spine and breathing technique
- Skull and facial bones: Caldwell, Towne, Waters, SMV
- Paranasal sinuses: four views on the 2022 outline, three on the 2027 outline (SMV dropped)
- Erect/horizontal beam rule
- Pelvis and hip: 15–20° internal rotation, cross-table lateral
Drill the full 256-question bank.
The free tier includes a 50-question quiz and a 200-question sample exam, 241 different questions in all. A paid plan unlocks all 2,584 ARRT-style questions, unlimited generated mock exams, and drills in this subcategory that adapt question order to you. Paid plans open soon.
Frequently asked questions
How many Head, Spine, and Pelvis questions are on the ARRT Radiography Boards?
The Head, Spine, and Pelvis Procedures subcategory is 18 of the 200 scored questions under the 2022 content specification, in force through 28 February 2027, about 9% of the scored exam. From 1 March 2027, the 2027 content specification lists 20 of 200. The full Radtechprepper practice bank contains 256 questions in this category, giving you ample room to drill until the patterns are second nature.
What topics are in the Head, Spine, and Pelvis subcategory?
Our study list for Head, Spine, and Pelvis starts with: Cervical spine routines and trauma; Open-mouth odontoid (C1, C2, dens); AP axial cervical (15–20° cephalic); Lumbar oblique (45°) and the Scottie dog; Thoracic spine and breathing technique. The official list is the content outline in ARRT Radiography Content Specifications. Our list uses common study terms in places, and the outline is what ARRT publishes.
How should I study for the Head, Spine, and Pelvis subcategory?
Start with the chapter overviews listed on this page, which cover the core concepts in plain English. Then drill questions, pause on every miss, read the rationale, and re-drill the same topic the next day. Space your review over several days instead of cramming.