Which of the following describes CR angle for Caldwell projection?

• A. CR angled 0 degrees
• B. CR angled 15 degrees cephalad
• C. CR angled 20 degrees caudad
• D. CR angled 15 degrees caudad

Answer: (D)

In this view, the goal is an axial projection that best shows the frontal bone and the orbital rims while moving the petrous pyramids below the orbits. Angling the central ray 15 degrees toward the feet (caudad) accomplishes this by exiting through the nasion. This caudad tilt shortens and foreshortens the frontal region appropriately and reduces overlap from the petrous ridges, giving a clearer frontal view.

Using no angulation would fail to create the necessary axial projection, keeping too much of the anatomy overlapped. Tilting the ray cephalad would shift the projection away from the standard Caldwell view, altering which structures are demonstrated. A larger caudad angle, such as 20 degrees, would over-tilt and distort the anatomy for this projection.