Shape distortion may take the form of:

Shape distortion may take the form of:

• A. Magnification and minification
• B. Size and shape distortion
• C. Elongation and foreshortening
• D. Magnification and elongation

Answer: (C)

Shape distortion arises when the beam, part, and image receptor aren’t aligned so that the projection of the anatomy doesn’t match its true outline. This leads to elongation, where the structure looks stretched along its length, or foreshortening, where it appears shortened or more compact than it really is. Magnification refers to overall size change due to the distance between the part and the receptor and does not describe a change in the shape itself. So the forms of shape distortion are elongation and foreshortening.

Shape distortion arises when the beam, part, and image receptor aren’t aligned so that the projection of the anatomy doesn’t match its true outline. This leads to elongation, where the structure looks stretched along its length, or foreshortening, where it appears shortened or more compact than it really is. Magnification refers to overall size change due to the distance between the part and the receptor and does not describe a change in the shape itself. So the forms of shape distortion are elongation and foreshortening.