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Throckmorton sign

Posted by Grant Barrett on · 4 Comments

Throckmorton sign n. the angle of the penis (in an x-ray film), jocularly said to point toward the side of the body with a medical anomaly. Editorial Note: See the 2000 citation for a more elaborate form of the joke which purports to explain how the Throckmorton sign is accurate. (source: Double-Tongued Dictionary)

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  1. Bartholomew Bono, M.D. says:
    February 13, 2006 at 10:32 am

    Throckmorton sign may also be found on CT scans, for which the patient almost always lies on his back.  It probably occurs because a person in pain naturally “splints,” i.e., contorts his back or abdomen to reduce tension in an area of pain.

  2. LOUISE THIBODEAU says:
    February 1, 2007 at 2:44 am

    I HAVE SEEN THE TRUE THROCKMORTON AND IT IS AN IMPRESSIVE OCCURANCE.
    I ALSO CONSIDER THE ANGLE OF THE DANGLE, BUT USUALLY ONLY WHEN IT IS COLD. lOUISE tHIBODEAU XRAY TECHNOLOGIST

  3. Trauma Girl says:
    September 12, 2007 at 10:02 am

    “The angle of the dangle”???!!!

  4. renee moberg says:
    May 21, 2008 at 10:47 am

    Too funny. I’m a trauma nurse and recently convinced two trauma/surgery residents that Throckmorton sign was totally legit. Then every trauma for months had a “positive Throckmorton” which only proved to reinforce the notion, and I was unable to convince them that it was just for fun. Now we keep a running tally in our trauma bays. It sounds pretty ridiculous I know, but it’s something we all kinda get a sick kick out of and it helps keep the mood light when things get sticky.

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