Which radiographic artifact is caused by improper vertical angulation and results in distortion such as elongation or foreshortening?

• A. Artifact due to placing sensor upside down.
• B. Distortion due to incorrect vertical angulation (elongation or foreshortening).
• C. Distortion due to incorrect horizontal angulation.
• D. Motion blur from patient movement.

Answer: (B)

Vertical angulation controls how the tooth is projected along its long axis on the film. When the central ray is not aligned with that axis, the tooth’s length is distorted. If the beam is angled too steeply (more vertical than the tooth), the image is foreshortened—the tooth appears shorter than it truly is. If the beam is not angled enough (too shallow vertically), the tooth is elongated—the image appears longer than the actual tooth. This distortion along the tooth’s length is the artifact caused by improper vertical angulation. Other artifacts, like a sensor placed upside down, horizontal angulation errors, or motion blur, create different kinds of distortions or image issues not described by elongation/foreshortening.