Radiation concepts

Question 1

what type of energy is used for radiographs?

Answer 1

electric energy

Question 2

what are the components of electromagnetic production?

Answer 2

wavelength, frequency, and energy

Question 3

x-ray wavelengths

Answer 3

fall in between gamma and ultraviolet wavelengths
compromised of frequency and amplitude (height of wave)

Question 4

x-ray frequency (Hz)

Answer 4

number of waveforms that strike an object during a given time period

Question 5

x-ray energy (eV)

Answer 5

long wavelength has a low frequency, is weak, and requires more time to be produced
short wavelengths have a high frequency, are powerful, and require less time to be produced

Question 6

who discovered x-rays?

Answer 6

Professor Wilhelm Rontgen

Question 7

what are the 12 properties of x-rays?

Answer 7

1. highly penetrating invisible rays that form electromagnetic radiation
2. electrically neutral and not affected by electric or magnetic fields
3. produce a wide variety of energies and wavelengths
4. release small amounts of heat as they pass through matter
5. travel in straight lines
6. travel at speed of light in a vacuum
7. ionize matter
8. cause florescence of specific crystals
9. not focused by lens
10. affect photographic film
11. create chemical and biological changes in matter due to ionization and excitation
12. produce secondary and scatter radiation

Question 8

what are the different parts of an x-ray machine?

Answer 8

x-ray tube head, x-ray control center, tabletop, Bucky tray, transformer, rectifier

Question 9

what is located inside the x-ray tube head?

Answer 9

anode, cathode, glass enclosure, and window

Question 10

what is the focusing cup and what is inside of it?

Answer 10

the cathode is inside of the focusing cup
it allows for excited electrons to be released in a straight pattern directed toward a focused target on the anode

Question 11

what is the energy like when from the time of contact of the electrons to the anode?

Answer 11

99% heat and 1% x-rays

Question 12

what are the different types of anodes?

Answer 12

rotating: used on stationary machines, disc shaped with angled edge
stationary: used in portable x-ray units, uses angled block instead of disc

Question 13

anode heel effect

Answer 13

all rotating anodes have a set degree of angulation that results in partial limitation of the x-ray beam on the anode side of the x-ray tube as compared with the cathode side

Question 14

what is contained inside the glass enclosure?

Answer 14

positively charged anode and negatively charged cathode in a vacuum sealed area which prevents dust particles from interfering with the electron’s movement

Question 15

what does the Bucky tray do?

Answer 15

holds the x-ray film cassette under the tabletop

Question 16

what is included in the control center?

Answer 16

on/off switch, kVp selector, mAs selector, time selector, x-ray prep, x-ray exposure button

Question 17

what does the step-up transformer do?

Answer 17

increase the voltage to heat the filament

Question 18

what does the step-down transformer do?

Answer 18

decreases the voltage to a pre-set number

Question 19

what are the 3 different levels that the rectifiers work on?

Answer 19

half-wave rectification: allows for electrons to move from the cathode to the anode on the positive movement of the incoming current resulting in a short exposure time
full wave rectification: converts negative movement into positive movement so both positive and negative movements can be used
3-phase approach: results in a more continuous movement which allows for increased energy, more electrons, and more constant energy in the x-ray beam

Question 20

radiographic study

Answer 20

all views taken of the same body part on the same patient at the same time

Question 21

what is included in a label on a folder containing a radiographic study?

Answer 21

patient and client name, date, views taken

Question 22

what information is included in a radiology log?

Answer 22

client’s name, patient’s name, body part radiographed, position, kVp and mAs settings used, initials/signature of the vet tech

Question 23

what is DICOM?

Answer 23

an acronym that refers to digital imagining and communications in medicine