Chapter 7

Question 1

Penetrating ability

Answer 1

Ability of an x-ray beam to pass through an object; controlled by the kilovolt peak of the beam

Question 2

Penumbra

Answer 2

Fuzzy edge of an object as imaged radiographically; also known as image unsharpness

Question 3

Photon

Answer 3

Quantum or particle of radiant energy

Question 4

Primary radiation

Answer 4

X-ray beam after it leaves the x-ray tube & before it reaches the object

Question 5

Radiolucent

Answer 5

Permitting the passage of x-rays or other forms of radiant energy with little attenuation

Question 6

Radiopaque

Answer 6

Not easily penetrable by x-rays or other forms of radiant energy

Question 7

Remnant radiation

Answer 7

Radiation resulting after the x-ray beam exits the object

Question 8

Scatter radiation

Answer 8

Radiation produced from x-ray photon interactions with matter in such a way that the resulting photons have continued in a different direction

Question 9

Source to image distance (SID)

Answer 9

Distance between the source of the x-rays & image receptor

Question 10

Spatial resolution

Answer 10

Degree of accuracy of the structural lines actually recorded in the image

Question 11

Umbra

Answer 11

True edge of an object as imaged radiographically

Question 12

Window level

Answer 12

Image manipulation parameter that changes image brightness on the display monitor, usually through the use of a mouse

Question 13

Window width

Answer 13

Image manipulation parameter that changes image contrast on the display monitor, usually through the use of a mouse

Question 14

Attenuation

Answer 14

Process by which a beam of radiation is reduced in energy when passing through tissue or other materials

Question 15

Brightness

Answer 15

Function of a display monitor; changes image lightness/ darkness

Question 16

Contrast

Answer 16

Difference between adjacent image receptor exposures on a radiographic image

Question 17

Density

Answer 17

Degree of darkening or blackness of exposed & processed photographic or radiographic film

Question 18

Exposure indicator (EI)

Answer 18

Numeric representation of the quantity of exposure received by a digital image receptor

Question 19

Distortion

Answer 19

Misrepresentation of the true size or shape of an object

Question 20

Grid

Answer 20

Device consisting of thin lead strips designed to permit primary radiation to pass while reducing scatter radiation by absorption

Question 21

Image receptor (IR)

Answer 21

Medium used to capture the image for recording, such as x-ray film or a digital imaging plate

Question 22

Kilovolt peak (kvp)

Answer 22

Measure of the potential difference, which controls the quality and affects the quantity of x-ray photons produced in the c-ray tube

Question 23

Milliampere second (MAS)

Answer 23

Measurement of milliamperage multiplied by the exposure time in seconds, which controls the total quantity of x-ray photons produced in the x-ray tube