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The left anterior oblique (LAO) view is
useful in visualizing the ostium and proximal portion of the RCA. The
posterior descending and postero-lateral branches are foreshortened.
Also, their origin and that of the acute marginal branch may be obscured
by overlap. This problem may be circumvented by the application of a
cranial tilt (see LAO/Cranial view). In the Left Anterior Oblique or LAO view, the
camera is rotated along a vertical axis towards the patient's left,
as shown at the bottom of the page. Please note that the ventricular
septum lies in a plane between the right shoulder and the left nipple.
Thus, in the LAO view, the camera "looks" at the edge of the septum.
The atrio-ventricular plane is seen as an outline, since it sits roughly
at right angles to the ventricular septum.