MRI MRI Anatomy and Positioning 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: When imaging the lumbar spine, which position best opens the intervertebral foramina and reduces lumbar lordosis for improved visualization?
- Prone with legs extended
- Supine with legs elevated on a cushion (knees and hips flexed) (Correct answer)
- Lateral decubitus
- Prone with pillow under abdomen
Correct answer: Supine with legs elevated on a cushion (knees and hips flexed)
Flexing the hips and knees while supine flattens lumbar lordosis, opens intervertebral foramina, and improves disc and nerve root visualization.
Question 2: For a brain MRI, which standard plane best demonstrates the corpus callosum in its entirety?
- Axial
- Coronal
- Sagittal (Correct answer)
- Oblique
Correct answer: Sagittal
The midsagittal plane shows the entire corpus callosum from the genu to the splenium as a continuous C-shaped structure.
Question 3: Which anatomical landmark is used to prescribe the standard axial plane for brain MRI?
- Frankfurt plane
- Anterior commissure–posterior commissure (AC-PC) line (Correct answer)
- Hard palate line
- Orbitomeatal baseline
Correct answer: Anterior commissure–posterior commissure (AC-PC) line
Axial brain MRI slices are typically aligned parallel to the AC-PC line for standardized anatomical coverage and comparison.
Question 4: What is the preferred patient position and coil for imaging the rotator cuff of the shoulder?
- Prone, body coil
- Supine, arm at side in neutral rotation, dedicated shoulder coil (Correct answer)
- Supine, arm abducted 90°, flex coil
- Sitting upright, surface coil
Correct answer: Supine, arm at side in neutral rotation, dedicated shoulder coil
Supine positioning with the arm at the side in neutral rotation and a dedicated shoulder coil provides optimal SNR and comfort for rotator cuff imaging.
Question 5: On a coronal MRI of the knee, which structure appears as a low-signal C-shaped band along the tibial plateau?
- Anterior cruciate ligament
- Posterior cruciate ligament
- Medial meniscus (Correct answer)
- Iliotibial band
Correct answer: Medial meniscus
The medial meniscus appears as a low-signal C-shaped (bow-tie) structure on coronal images along the medial tibial plateau.
Question 6: For MRI of the internal auditory canals (IACs), which imaging plane is most commonly used as the primary plane?
- Sagittal oblique
- Axial (Correct answer)
- Coronal
- Oblique coronal
Correct answer: Axial
Axial high-resolution images are the primary plane for IAC MRI because they show the full length of CN VII and CN VIII within the canal.
MRI MRI Anatomy and Positioning 1
When imaging the lumbar spine, which position best opens the intervertebral foramina and reduces lumbar lordosis for improved visualization?