Abstract: An X-ray examination apparatus includes a beam diaphragm (3) with an X-ray absorbing shutter (4, 31, 32) which is arranged between the X-ray source (1) and the X-ray detector (9) in order to intercept parts of the X-ray beam (2), thus forming a limited X-ray beam (7). The shutter (4, 31, 32) can be displaced according to different degrees of freedom by different rotations of control rings (21, 22, 41, 42, 47, 48) whereto the shutter (4, 31, 32) is coupled. Because the shutter (4, 31, 32) can be moved to practically any desired position within the X-ray beam (2), the beam diaphragm (3) can shape the cross-section of the limited X-ray beam (7) in such a manner that essentially only a part (5) of a patient (6) to be examined is exposed to X-rays.