For a cervicothoracic spine (Swimmers) lateral radiograph, a 3-5 degree caudal angulation may be needed to better visualize the C7-T1 articulation.

• A. C1-C2
• B. C7-T1
• C. T1-T2
• D. C3-C4

Answer: (B)

In the swimmers lateral view, the goal is to visualize the cervicothoracic junction, where the C7 vertebra meets T1. The shoulders tend to obscure this area, so a small caudal tilt of the X-ray beam—about 3–5 degrees—helps project the C7–T1 articulation more clearly by reducing the superimosition of the shoulders and aligning the beam with the natural slope at this junction. This slight angulation enhances the visibility of the joint space and alignment at C7-T1, which is exactly what this view is intended to assess. The other levels (upper cervical, mid-to-lower cervical, or lower thoracic) are not the primary target of this projection, so they aren’t the focus of this angulation.