In the oblique view, the Scotty dog is a mnemonic used to describe anatomy of which region?

In the oblique view, the Scotty dog is a mnemonic used to describe anatomy of which region?

• A. Cervical spine
• B. Thoracic spine
• C. Sacral region
• D. Lumbar spine

Answer: (D)

On an oblique radiograph, the anatomy seen forms a recognizable shape—the Scotty dog—when you’re looking at the lumbar region. The neck of the dog represents the pars interarticularis, the part most often checked for stress fractures in spondylolysis. Because this mnemonic specifically comes from the oblique view of the lumbar spine, the region described is the lumbar spine, not the cervical, thoracic, or sacral areas.

On an oblique radiograph, the anatomy seen forms a recognizable shape—the Scotty dog—when you’re looking at the lumbar region. The neck of the dog represents the pars interarticularis, the part most often checked for stress fractures in spondylolysis. Because this mnemonic specifically comes from the oblique view of the lumbar spine, the region described is the lumbar spine, not the cervical, thoracic, or sacral areas.