After familiarizing yourself with the concepts and terminology introduced in the section Angulation, you can use this section to see examples of standard viewing angles. Because of differences in individual anatomy, the exact angles of angulation often need to be adjusted to optimize images.

These angles are by no means exhaustive or definitive. Rather, this is a starting point to understand commonly used projections.

Guiding principles

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By coronary segment

Color conventions

I have arbitrarily chosen the coloring convention on the right for annotating coronary vessels, and I will use it consistently. In case you see an annotation where I have omitted labels, please refer here to know which color represents which vessel.

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By angiographic projection

Left circulation

RAO caudal

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The base will be to the left of the screen and the apex to the right. The anterior heart is toward the top of the screen, and the inferior heart is toward the bottom.

The mid to distal LAD and diagonal branches are typically overlapped.

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This angle is best for visualizing the LM, LCx and branch vessels, and often the proximal LAD.

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AP caudal