Spinal X-ray

Back X-Ray, Neck X-Ray, X-Ray, Back, X-Ray, Neck, X-Ray, Spine

Test Overview

Spinal X-rays are pictures of the spine to find spinal fractures, infections, dislocations, tumours, bone spurs, or disc disease. Spinal X-rays are also done to check the curvature of the spine or for spinal defects.

X-rays are a form of radiation, like light or radio waves, that are focused into a beam, much like a flashlight beam. X-rays can pass through most objects, including the human body. X-rays make a picture by striking a detector that either exposes a film or sends the picture to a computer. Dense tissues in the body, such as bones, block (absorb) many of the X-rays and look white on an X-ray picture. Less dense tissues, such as muscles and organs, block fewer of the X-rays (more of the X-rays pass through) and look like shades of grey on an X-ray. X-rays that pass only through air look black.

The spine is a column of 33 bones (vertebrae). Between most of the spinal bones are pads of cartilage (discs) that cushion the bones from shock and allow movement between them. There are four common types of spinal X-rays:

• Cervical spine X-ray. This X-ray test takes pictures of the 7 neck (cervical) bones.
• Thoracic spine X-ray. This X-ray test takes pictures of the 12 chest (thoracic) bones.
• Lumbosacral spine X-ray. This X-ray test takes pictures of the 5 bones of the lower back (lumbar vertebrae) and a view of the 5 fused bones at the bottom of the spine (sacrum).
• Sacrum/coccyx X-ray. This X-ray test takes a detailed view of the 5 fused bones at the bottom of the spine (sacrum) and the 4 small fused bones of the tailbone (coccyx).

The most common spinal X-rays are of the cervical vertebrae (C-spine films) and lumbosacral vertebrae (LS-spine films).

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Author:	Carrie Henley Jan Nissl, RN, BS	Last Updated: July 26, 2006
Medical Review:	Adam Husney, MD - Family Medicine Paul D. Traughber, MD - Radiology Kenneth B. Sutherland, CD, BSc, MD, FRCPC - Diagnostic Radiology
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