What is the correct central ray location for a lateral cervical X-ray?

The correct central ray location for a lateral cervical X-ray is at the angle of the mandible. This positioning is crucial because it aligns the central ray with the cervical spine, allowing for optimal imaging of the cervical vertebrae from C1 to C7 without superimposing the mandible or soft tissue structures that could obscure the vertebrae. Positioning the central ray at the angle of the mandible ensures that the X-ray captures the necessary anatomy while maintaining adequate visualization of the spinal structure.

In contrast, positioning the central ray midway between C2 and C4 would not effectively capture the entire cervical spine and could lead to misinterpretation of the structures in that region. Level with C4 vertebra may also not encompass the full extent of the cervical spine, focusing too narrowly on that specific vertebra. Lastly, positioning the central ray at the lower lip would be inappropriate as it would direct the X-ray beam far too anteriorly and likely include unwanted structures, compromising the quality and usefulness of the image.