Normal cervical spine radiograph on X‑ray: 7 real cases

Real, openly licensed radiographs showing normal cervical spine radiograph. Study what to look for, then open each case and read it yourself before revealing the answer.

What to look for

  • Adequacy: the lateral shows from the skull base to the top of T1, including the C7/T1 junction.
  • The anterior vertebral, posterior vertebral, spinolaminar and spinous process tip lines are smooth and unbroken.
  • On the peg view the lateral masses of C1 line up with those of C2 and the dens sits centrally. A normal film does not clear the spine (NICE NG232: CT first-line in adult trauma).

Learn: Cervical spine X-ray

Quiz yourself on spine images

Cases

Radiograph from the case bank: Normal cervical spine radiographCase #70685821Spine · IntermediateRadiograph from the case bank: Normal cervical spine radiographCase #81459513Spine · IntermediateRadiograph from the case bank: Normal cervical spine radiographCase #70685820Spine · IntermediateRadiograph from the case bank: Normal cervical spine radiographCase #81459519Spine · IntermediateRadiograph from the case bank: Normal cervical spine radiographCase #70685819Spine · IntermediateRadiograph from the case bank: Normal cervical spine radiographCase #81459515Spine · IntermediateRadiograph from the case bank: Normal cervical spine radiographCase #81459514Spine · Intermediate

Other spine diagnoses

Diagnoses come from each image's documented source. Credits and licences are shown on each case and on the image credits page.