Humerus AP
Position the Patient
- Seated or standing
- Extend arm and supinate hand (palm up)
- Abduct arm slightly
- Ensure shoulder and elbow are in the same plane
Words That Work
“Keep your arm straight and slightly away from your body. Imagine your palm and the crease of your elbow are two headlights—turn your whole arm until both headlights face straight forward. Relax your shoulder and hold still.”
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AP humerus positioning
Set Up the Shot
- Center here
- Central ray
- Mid-humerus
- Include this in the field
- Collimation
- Entire humerus including shoulder and elbow joints
- Set the distance
- SID
- 40"
- Check the technique
- Technique
- 65-70 kVp
- Follow facility protocols
Common Pitfalls
- •Shoulder or elbow joint cut off
- •Rotation (epicondyles not parallel to IR)
- •Greater tubercle not in profile
Evaluate the Image
What should be visible?
- Entire humerus
- Greater tubercle
- Shoulder and elbow joints
Does the image pass?
- ✓No rotation (epicondyles parallel to the image receptor)
- ✓Shoulder and elbow included
- ✓Greater tubercle in profile