To place the clavicle parallel to the image receptor, the technician should

To place the clavicle parallel to the image receptor, the technician should

• A. Elevate the arm of the affected side
• B. Place the patient in a prone position
• C. Internally rotate the humerus
• D. Raise the opposite shoulder 15-20 degrees

Answer: (D)

The technique tests how to align the clavicle with the image receptor by adjusting body tilt. To get the clavicle to run in the same plane as the IR, you tilt the patient slightly by raising the opposite shoulder about 15–20 degrees. This small shoulder elevation rotates the torso enough to place the clavicle parallel to the receptor, reducing overlap from the scapula and making the entire clavicle visible. Other options don’t reliably achieve this alignment: elevating the arm on the affected side doesn’t optimize clavicle orientation relative to the IR; placing the patient prone changes none of the necessary plane alignment and can affect magnification; internally rotating the humerus alters shoulder girdle position but doesn’t produce the required clavicle-parallel projection.

The technique tests how to align the clavicle with the image receptor by adjusting body tilt. To get the clavicle to run in the same plane as the IR, you tilt the patient slightly by raising the opposite shoulder about 15–20 degrees. This small shoulder elevation rotates the torso enough to place the clavicle parallel to the receptor, reducing overlap from the scapula and making the entire clavicle visible.

Other options don’t reliably achieve this alignment: elevating the arm on the affected side doesn’t optimize clavicle orientation relative to the IR; placing the patient prone changes none of the necessary plane alignment and can affect magnification; internally rotating the humerus alters shoulder girdle position but doesn’t produce the required clavicle-parallel projection.