Human Anatomy, Part 1 - K. A. Dyubenko, A. K. Kolomiytsev, Yu. B. Chaykovsky 2002

Special Part
Axial Skeleton, skeleton axiale — The Skull as a Whole
X-ray Anatomy of the Skull

Diagnostic X-ray Examination of the Skull is known as craniography. It involves obtaining general and targeted radiographs of the skull. General radiographs serve as the primary baseline and are performed in lateral, anteroposterior, posteroanterior, axial, and semi-axial projections. Targeted radiographs are used to examine the condition of specific Cranial bones in greater detail.

Craniography is indicated for skull fractures and their complications, locating Foreign bodies in the HEAD, diagnosing cranial developmental anomalies, and examining the Paranasal Sinuses, sella turcica, as well as anatomical variants and anomalies in the craniocervical region, among other uses.

General anteroposterior radiographs reveal radiolucent areas corresponding to the air-containing cavities—the maxillary sinus (sinus maxillaris), frontal sinus (sinus frontalis), sphenoid sinus (sinus sphenoidalis), and ethmoid sinus (sinus ethmoidalis)—as well as dense radiopaque shadows of the cranial bones and sutures (Fig. 59A).

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Fig. 59. General skull radiograph: A — anteroposterior projection

Lateral general radiographs clearly show the cranial vault, facial bones, sella turcica, petrous part of the Temporal bone, and the anterior, middle, and posterior cranial fossae (Fig. 59B). Several shapes of the sella turcica are distinguished: flat, deep, and round. The contours of the sella turcica should be smooth and regular; targeted radiographs are performed for its detailed assessment. The air-containing sphenoid sinus is located directly beneath the sella turcica.

Fig. 59. General skull radiograph (Continued): B — lateral projection