What is the result of foreshortening on the radiographic image?

• A. Image Appears Distorted in the Opposite Direction
• B. Image Appears Too Long
• C. Image Appears Too Short
• D. No Distortion

Answer: (C)

Foreshortening is a distortion that makes a structure look shorter on the radiograph than it actually is. This happens when the part isn’t aligned with the image receptor or when the beam isn’t perpendicular to the part, so the projection onto the film compresses the length. The result is that the image appears too short. To avoid this, position the part so its long axis is parallel to the film and ensure the beam is perpendicular to the part and the film. If the part were tilted away, you’d see elongation; if perfectly aligned, there would be no distortion.