Chapter 9 Flashcards
What is Ionizing Radiation?
Capable of penetrating matter and possess sufficent energy to eject orbital electrons along its path
Two sources of Ionizing Radiation
Natural
Man-made
Types of Natural Radiation
Cosmic radiation from the sun
Uranium
Radium
Types of human made radiation
Nuclear industry - power plant accidents, weapons testing, disposal of by products
Radionuclides - smoke detectors
Medical and dental exposures - greatest source of human made radiation
Video monitors, suntan beds, microwave ovens
What is the smallest unit of radiation?
Photons
Quanta/Quantum when occuring in groups
What 3 things must exist for X-rays to be produced?
Electron source
Force to move them rapidly
Something to stop this movement abruptly
How are x-rays produced?
- Filament (electron source) is in cathode assembly - made of thoriated tungsten
- mA (electric current) is applied to the filament and it responds by boiling off electrons (thermionic emissions)
kV is applied to the tube terminals causing electrons to accelerate towards the anode end of the x-ray tube
- X-rays are produced when electrons strike anode
Both heat and energy are produced - 1% xrays and 99% heat
What can happen after X-rays strike matter?
Absorption
Scatter
Pass through unaffected - remnant radiation
What are the difference types of tissues by density?
Air
Soft Tissue
Fatty Tissue
Bone
Units of Measure
Gray - absorbed dose
Sievert - Equivalent dose or occupation dose
Coulomb/kg - Measures exposure in air
What is the heterogeneous beam?
Xray beam has many energies - measured in KeV
What is the primary beam?
Dirtected toward the patient through window
Most occupational exposure comes from:
Scatter
Who sets standards for radiation protection equipment?
Under the direction of the FDA, Center for Devices and Radiological Health (CDRH)
Who collects and distributes info on radiaiton awareness?
NCRP: National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurement
Enforced by the NRC: Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Two theories of effective dose limits:
- Non-threshold - no dose exist below which the risk of damage does not exist. No dose considered permissible
- The benefit to patient to perform exam must outweigh the risk of biological damage