Final answer:
In radiographic imaging, the RPO projection will present the right ribs closest to the IR while the LAO projection show the left ribs closest. The naming convention in oblique views indicates which side of the patient's body is nearest to the IR.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question asks which projection shows the ribs closest to the image receptor (IR), given the options of Right Posterior Oblique (RPO), Left Posterior Oblique (LPO), Right Anterior Oblique (RAO), and Left Anterior Oblique (LAO). In radiographic imaging, the side of the patient closest to the IR will appear larger due to magnification. In oblique positions, the side of the body that is named (right or left) is the side closest to the IR.
For example, an RPO position will present the right side of the ribs closest to the IR, and because of the curvature of the ribs, the LAO position will show the left anterior ribs closer to the IR. Therefore, to answer the student's question, the projection that shows the ribs closest to the IR would be RPO for the right ribs and LAO for the left ribs, as they are the projections in which the corresponding ribs are closest to the IR, resulting in a clearer image.