Brain & Nervous System Health Center
Spinal X-ray
Spinal X-rays are pictures of the spine to find spinal fractures, infections, dislocations, tumors, bone spurs, or disc disease. Spinal X-rays are also done to check the curvature of the spine or for spinal defects.
X-rays are a form of radiation, like light or radio waves, that are focused into a beam, much like a flashlight beam. X-rays can pass through most objects, including the human body. X-rays make a picture by striking a detector that either exposes a film or sends the picture to a computer. Dense tissues in the body, such as bones, block (absorb) many of the X-rays and look white on an X-ray picture. Less dense tissues, such as muscles and organs, block fewer of the X-rays (more of the X-rays pass through) and look like shades of gray on an X-ray. X-rays that pass only through air look black.
The
spine
is a column of 33 bones (vertebrae). Between most of the spinal bones are pads of cartilage (discs
)
that cushion the bones from shock and allow movement between them. There are
four common types of spinal X-rays:
- Cervical spine X-ray. This X-ray test takes pictures of the 7 neck (cervical) bones.
- Thoracic spine X-ray. This X-ray test takes pictures of the 12 chest (thoracic) bones.
- Lumbosacral spine X-ray. This X-ray test takes pictures of the 5 bones of the lower back (lumbar vertebrae) and a view of the 5 fused bones at the bottom of the spine (sacrum).
- Sacrum/coccyx X-ray. This X-ray test takes a detailed view of the 5 fused bones at the bottom of the spine (sacrum) and the 4 small fused bones of the tailbone (coccyx).
The most common spinal X-rays are of the cervical vertebrae (C-spine films) and lumbosacral vertebrae (LS-spine films).
Why It Is Done
A spinal X-ray is done to:
- Find the cause of ongoing pain, numbness, or weakness.
- Check for arthritis of the joints between the vertebrae and the breakdown (degeneration) of the discs between the spinal bones.
- Find spinal problems, such as fractures, infections, dislocations, tumors, bone spurs, disc disease, or problems from birth (congenital).
- Check injuries to the spine (vertebrae).
- Check for abnormal curvatures of the spine, such as scoliosis, in children or young adults.
- Check the spine in infants, children, or young adults suspected or known to have a spinal defect, such as spina bifida.
- Check changes in the spine after spinal surgery.
How To Prepare
Before the X-ray test, tell your doctor if you:
- Are or might be pregnant. Pregnancy and the risk of radiation exposure to your baby (fetus) must be considered. The risk of damage from the X-rays is usually very low compared with the potential benefits of the test. If a spinal X-ray is absolutely necessary, a lead apron will be placed over your abdomen to shield the fetus from exposure to the X-rays.
- Have had an X-ray test using barium contrast material (such as a barium enema) in the past 4 days. Barium shows up on X-ray films and makes it hard to get a clear picture of the lower back (lumbar spine).
You do not need to do anything before you have this test.
WebMD Medical Reference from Healthwise



