Author: A. Mendelson, MD

The buccinator muscle plays an important role in everyday actions like chewing, speaking, and even blowing air. Radiologists may comment on it when evaluating the face and mouth on CT…

When the term suboccipital appears in a radiology report, it refers to the area just below the back of the skull. This region is small but important because it contains…

The styloid process is a slender, pointed piece of bone located just below the ear, projecting from the temporal bone of the skull. It serves as an anchor point for…

An osteoma is a benign bone growth that often appears on imaging studies performed for other reasons. These growths develop slowly, are usually painless, and most commonly occur in the…

When a radiology report mentions cervical lymphadenopathy, it means that lymph nodes in the neck are enlarged. This is a common finding on imaging studies such as ultrasound, CT, or…

If your radiology report mentions the “cricopharyngeus muscle,” it’s referring to a ring of muscle at the top of the esophagus. This muscle acts like a valve that opens during…

The parietal pleura is the thin lining that covers the inside of your chest wall, diaphragm, and the sides of the mediastinum. It is different from the visceral pleura, which…

The manubrium is the upper part of the breastbone (sternum). It sits in the center of your chest, where the collarbones (clavicles) and first ribs meet. When a radiology report…

When you read a radiology report, you may notice the term “suboccipital muscles.” These small but important muscles are located at the base of the skull, deep in the upper…

The zygomatic process is a bony projection in the skull that helps form the cheekbone and part of the eye socket. It is a normal structure seen on imaging studies…

The thyroid cartilage is a key structure in the neck that protects the voice box (larynx) and supports normal breathing and speech. It can be mentioned in radiology reports for…

A preauricular lymph node is a small immune gland located just in front of the ear. These lymph nodes help filter lymph fluid and fight infection, especially in areas involving…