In an AP oblique radiograph of the lumbar spine, the eye of the Scotty dog represents which vertebral feature?

• A. Pars interarticularis
• B. Transverse process
• C. Pedicle
• D. Superior articular process

Answer: (C)

In an oblique view of the lumbar spine, the Scotty dog is a mnemonic for the vertebral anatomy seen in that projection. The eye of the dog corresponds to the pedicle. The pedicle is the bony pillar connecting the vertebral body to the posterior elements, and on this oblique exposure it appears as a rounded, eye-like structure in the middle of the vertebra. This makes the pedicle the best match for the “eye.” The other parts map to different features (for example, the neck area called the pars interarticularis forms the dog’s neck, which is why a fracture there is described as a collar).