diff --git a/monai/data/image_reader.py b/monai/data/image_reader.py
index a640070d16..778f2ca225 100644
--- a/monai/data/image_reader.py
+++ b/monai/data/image_reader.py
@@ -227,7 +227,9 @@ def _get_spatial_shape(self, img) -> Sequence:
             img: a ITK image object loaded from a image file.
 
         """
-        return list(itk.size(img))
+        shape = list(itk.size(img))
+        shape.reverse()
+        return shape
 
     def _get_array_data(self, img) -> np.ndarray:
         """
diff --git a/tests/test_load_image.py b/tests/test_load_image.py
index caa3bf84a0..9399afaf50 100644
--- a/tests/test_load_image.py
+++ b/tests/test_load_image.py
@@ -128,6 +128,7 @@ def test_itk_dicom_series_reader(self, input_param, filenames, expected_shape):
             ),
         ),
         self.assertTupleEqual(result.shape, expected_shape)
+        self.assertTupleEqual(tuple(header["spatial_shape"]), expected_shape)
 
     def test_load_png(self):
         spatial_size = (256, 256)
@@ -144,7 +145,6 @@ def test_load_png(self):
 
     def test_register(self):
         spatial_size = (32, 64, 128)
-        expected_shape = (128, 64, 32)
         test_image = np.random.rand(*spatial_size)
         with tempfile.TemporaryDirectory() as tempdir:
             filename = os.path.join(tempdir, "test_image.nii.gz")
@@ -154,7 +154,7 @@ def test_register(self):
             loader = LoadImage(image_only=False)
             loader.register(ITKReader())
             result, header = loader(filename)
-            self.assertTupleEqual(tuple(header["spatial_shape"]), expected_shape)
+            self.assertTupleEqual(tuple(header["spatial_shape"]), spatial_size)
             self.assertTupleEqual(result.shape, spatial_size)
 
     def test_kwargs(self):
diff --git a/tests/test_load_imaged.py b/tests/test_load_imaged.py
index d85c6cfab4..396167046b 100644
--- a/tests/test_load_imaged.py
+++ b/tests/test_load_imaged.py
@@ -42,7 +42,6 @@ def test_shape(self, input_param, expected_shape):
 
     def test_register(self):
         spatial_size = (32, 64, 128)
-        expected_shape = (128, 64, 32)
         test_image = np.random.rand(*spatial_size)
         with tempfile.TemporaryDirectory() as tempdir:
             filename = os.path.join(tempdir, "test_image.nii.gz")
@@ -52,7 +51,7 @@ def test_register(self):
             loader = LoadImaged(keys="img")
             loader.register(ITKReader())
             result = loader({"img": filename})
-            self.assertTupleEqual(tuple(result["img_meta_dict"]["spatial_shape"]), expected_shape)
+            self.assertTupleEqual(tuple(result["img_meta_dict"]["spatial_shape"]), spatial_size)
             self.assertTupleEqual(result["img"].shape, spatial_size)