Which Scotty dog feature corresponds to the superior articular process?

Which Scotty dog feature corresponds to the superior articular process?

• A. Eye
• B. Nose
• C. Ear
• D. Neck

Answer: (C)

In an oblique view of the lumbar spine, the Scotty dog sign helps you map the posterior elements. The ears of the Scotty dog correspond to the superior articular processes. Those facets sit at the top of the vertebra and, when projected in this view, resemble ears on the dog’s silhouette. So the feature that represents the superior articular process is the ear. The other parts map to different structures (for example, the eye to the pedicle, the nose to the transverse process, the neck to the pars interarticularis), but the ear specifically denotes the superior articular process.

In an oblique view of the lumbar spine, the Scotty dog sign helps you map the posterior elements. The ears of the Scotty dog correspond to the superior articular processes. Those facets sit at the top of the vertebra and, when projected in this view, resemble ears on the dog’s silhouette. So the feature that represents the superior articular process is the ear. The other parts map to different structures (for example, the eye to the pedicle, the nose to the transverse process, the neck to the pars interarticularis), but the ear specifically denotes the superior articular process.