Lesson 1Cardiac silhouette and pericardial contours: right and left heart borders, normal cardiothoracic ratioLooks at the normal heart shape on PA chest x-rays, covering right and left heart edges, big vessel lines, and heart-to-chest size. Teaches measuring, describing, and telling normal changes from real big heart.
Right heart border and right atrial interfaceLeft heart border and left ventricular contourPulmonary artery segment and aortic knobMeasuring the cardiothoracic ratio on PAPericardial fat pads and normal variantsLesson 2Lungs zones and common normal variants: apices, mid zones, bases, emphysematous changes, scarring vs. acute processesGoes into splitting lungs into top, middle, and bottom parts on PA x-rays. Talks about usual changes like light scarring, air pocket changes, and age patterns, and how to keep them apart from sudden sickness.
Defining apical, mid, and basal lung zonesNormal vascular pattern in each lung zoneApical pleural thickening and old scarringAge-related hyperinflation and emphysemaDistinguishing chronic change from acute opacityLesson 3Pleura and diaphragms: costophrenic angles, hemidiaphragm contours, normal pleural reflectionsChecks normal lung lining and breathing muscle shapes on PA chest x-rays. Focuses on side angles, half-muscle shape, stomach air bubble, and fine lining lines to not mistake fluid or air leaks.
Sharp costophrenic and cardiophrenic anglesRight versus left hemidiaphragm heightGastric bubble and subdiaphragmatic gasNormal pleural reflections and fissure linesSubpulmonic effusion mimics and pitfallsLesson 4Common technical pitfalls and how they alter anatomy appearance: rotation, AP vs PA projection effects, under/overexposureShows how machine settings change how chest looks on PA and AP x-rays. Covers turning, angle, light, and breath depth, and how each can look like sickness or hide it, plus spotting bad pictures.
Assessing rotation using clavicular headsAP versus PA projection and heart sizeEffects of underexposure on lung detailEffects of overexposure on mediastinal linesInadequate inspiration and crowding of vesselsLesson 5Mediastinal and central thoracic landmarks: trachea, carina, main bronchi, aortic knuckle, superior mediastinumLooks at main middle chest signs on PA x-rays. Stresses knowing normal spots, shapes, and links of air pipe, big vessels, and top middle to tell normal from sick.
Tracheal air column and midline alignmentCarina position and main bronchi anglesAortic knuckle and aortopulmonary windowSuperior mediastinal width and contoursRight and left paratracheal stripesLesson 6Chest wall and osseous structures: ribs, clavicles, scapulae, vertebral bodies and typical appearances on PA viewCovers normal look of chest wall and bones on PA x-rays. Includes ribs, collar bones, shoulder blades, breast bone, and back bone, stressing line-up, edges, and harmless changes that look like sickness.
Anterior and posterior rib contoursClavicular alignment and rotation cluesScapular borders and projection artifactsThoracic vertebral bodies and disc spacesSternal and costochondral joint variantsLesson 7Reference sources and image atlas orientation: how to use standard textbooks and online radiology teaching libraries to confirm normal appearancesGuides you on using books and online picture collections to check normal chest x-ray looks. Covers finding your way, search tips, and matching patient pics with normal ones for self-learning.
Selecting core chest radiology textbooksNavigating online teaching file librariesComparing patient films with normal atlasesUsing annotated images to learn landmarksBuilding a personal reference image archiveLesson 8Systematic reporting checklist for a normal PA chest X-ray: at least 10 structures to comment on and sample normal descriptionsGives a step-by-step list for reading normal PA chest x-rays. Takes you through lines, bones, soft bits, lungs, linings, middle, heart, muscle, and upper belly with normal saying examples.
Initial image details and technical assessmentSoft tissues, chest wall, and visible neckBones: ribs, clavicles, scapulae, spineMediastinum, trachea, and cardiac silhouetteLungs, hila, pleura, diaphragm, upper abdomenLesson 9External patient factors and correct PA technique: positioning, inspiration, rotation, exposureDescribes right patient placing and PA method for chest x-rays. Points out turning, breathing, shoulder placing, and light effects on pic quality, with tips for good or redo shots.
Standard PA positioning and focal distanceChin, scapulae, and arm placementEvaluating adequacy of inspiration on PARotation assessment using spinous processesExposure criteria for mediastinum and lungsLesson 10Pulmonary hila and vasculature: pulmonary arteries and veins, bronchovascular markings, hilar symmetryDetails normal look of lung roots and blood lines on PA x-rays. Stresses side-by-side spots, size, fullness of root shadows, air vessel marks, and thinning from middle to edge lung parts.
Right versus left hilar position and heightNormal hilar vessel size and densityBronchovascular markings to lung peripheryVascular tapering and pruning patternsRecognizing normal hilar lymph node silhouettes
