In the course of evaluating the patient with spinal disease a myriad of measurements need to be performed before determining the diagnosis and the severity of the disease process. This text explicitly outlines the measurement of the spine from a clinical laboratory and radiographic approach. A detailed description of the actual technique of measurement and the clinical implication are presented with accompanying illustrations. This amalgamation of measurement tools for the spine is a beneficial reference for a wide spectrum of healthcare providers: students nurses residents fellows and established surgeons. In addition to its detailed illustrated presentation each measurement technique has been graded for scientific and clinical utility with a score that specifically grades: Interobserver reliability Intraobserver reliability Universality Disease specificity Ease of application Simplicity Patient tolerability Expense The detail presented in this text will not only serve as a reference but will also allow the reader to accurately reproduce measurement techniques thus enhancing inter-physician communication research of the spine and improvement of patient care.