X-ray of the skull

On the X-ray images in the lateral projection the whole skull is visible - both the brain and the facial. The contours of the cranial vault on the radiograph are represented by a double line of compact bone substance. A clearer and more even outer line corresponds to the outer plate of the bones of the cranial vault. The thickness of the inner line is an internal plate. A narrow "enlightened" band (darker in the picture) between them is a spongy substance. In the forward sections of the arch, a narrow band of "enlightenment" (diploe) turns into a sharp widening of the oval or triangular shape, corresponding to the frontal sinus. Behind the outer contour of the cranial vault ends with a more or less pronounced external occipital protrusion. Inside of it there is a thickening of the cruciform elevation with a slight depression corresponding to the sulcus of the transverse sinus.

Against the background of the bones of the skull, the lighter lines of cerebral elevations are visible and the darker areas of various forms ("enlightenment") are finger-like impressions. Venous and lambdoid sutures are visible against the background of the bones of the cranial vault. As a continuation of the lambdoid suture, the occipital mastoid seam is seen below. Other seams of the skull bones in the image in the lateral projection are weakly defined or not visible at all. From the seams, it is necessary to distinguish wavy dark streaks on the place of diploid veins, as well as meningeal arteries. Intensive shadows of the stony parts of the temporal bones are allocated within the skull base. Ahead of them is the body of a sphenoid bone with a Turkish saddle, the walls of which have clear contours. In the thickness of the body of the bone, under the Turkish saddle, there is a vast dark spot of the sphenoid sinus.

Behind the Turkish saddle begins a ramp in the form of a line extending to the anterior margin of the large (occipital) opening. Behind the pyramids of the temporal bones are the enlightenments of the cells of the mastoid process and the wide "enlightened" (dark) furrow of the sigmoid sinus.

In the area of the facial skull, the orbit is defined as a cone, the base of which is directed anteriorly, and the apex is posterior. On the eye sockets layered cells lattice labyrinth. In front of the eye sockets are visible contours of the nasal bones, the base of which is turned upward and backward, and the apex - down and forward. The nasal cavity is layered on the orbitals and the maxillary sinuses located below the orbit, which have on the roentgenogram the appearance of a dark quadrangular or irregularly shaped part. Against the backdrop of this quadrangle, it is possible to distinguish shadows of nasal concha in the form of elongated semi-oval bands, and between them - nasal passages. Below overlapping images of the nasal cavity and maxillary sinuses, a horizontally visible light strip (shadow) is visible, indicating the bones of the hard palate. Below and anterior to it are the alveolar process of the upper jaw and the upper teeth. The contours of the right and left halves of the lower jaw and the teeth on the lateral radiograph are clearly visible. Against the background of the body and the lower part of the branch, a darker band of the canal of the lower jaw is traced. On the roentgenogram in the anterior projection, the contours of the arch are traced; the drawing of the frontal bone is superimposed on the figure of the occipital bone. The contours of the eye sockets are clearly defined, and between them and just below lies the nasal cavity, divided by the septum of the nose. On the lower part of the eye sockets, from the side of the nasal cavity, intense shadows of the pyramids of the temporal bones are layered. On the upper part of the nasal cavity between the eye sockets are projected the body of a sphenoid bone with a sphenoid sinus, cells of the latticed bone and contours of the nasal concha. On the sides of the nasal cavity, under the eye sockets, dark areas ("enlightenments") corresponding to the maxillary sinuses are distinguished. In the lower part of the facial skull, the upper and lower teeth and the lower jaw are visible with its right and left branches.