Abstract: A medical radiological apparatus, such as an x-ray bone densitometry apparatus includes patient positioning aides for accurate patient placement and consistent positioning during a single scanning procedure, or during subsequent procedures. An optical crosshair device helps align the patient's spine along the Y-axis of the apparatus and the patient's hips along the X-axis of the apparatus, perpendicular to the spine. Spinal and forearm positioning aides help the patient maintain consistent, comfortable positions within scans. They also enable repreducibility of patient position in subsequent scans, so that scan results from one scan to another may be compared by a medical practitioner, with reasonable assurance that the respective scan results are not unduly compromised by inconsistent patient placement. The forearm positioning aide consistently places the forearm flat on the patient support table in a proper position parallel to the longitudinal table axis.