How is foreshortening caused during an x-ray?

Foreshortening in an X-ray occurs when the object being imaged is not parallel to the X-ray beam, leading to a distortion in the size and shape of the structure. This happens because the X-ray beam projects a three-dimensional object onto a two-dimensional film or detector, resulting in an apparent reduction in the length of the object. The degree of foreshortening is influenced by the angle of the object relative to the X-ray beam. Proper positioning and angling of both the X-ray source and the subject can help minimize this effect.