What type of shape distortion occurs when the bone is angled but the central ray is perpendicular?

What type of shape distortion occurs when the bone is angled but the central ray is perpendicular?

• A. Elongation
• B. Distortion
• C. Foreshortening
• D. Magnification

Answer: (C)

Shape distortion in radiography happens when the part isn’t aligned with the imaging plane. If the central ray is perpendicular to the film and the bone is tilted, the projection of the bone on the film becomes shorter than its actual length. This shortening is foreshortening. If the bone were tilted away from the film, you’d see elongation instead. Magnification would come from the bone being farther from the film, not from this tilt.

Shape distortion in radiography happens when the part isn’t aligned with the imaging plane. If the central ray is perpendicular to the film and the bone is tilted, the projection of the bone on the film becomes shorter than its actual length. This shortening is foreshortening. If the bone were tilted away from the film, you’d see elongation instead. Magnification would come from the bone being farther from the film, not from this tilt.