Basic Principles of Radiology

Question 1

X-rays travel in _____ lines, and cannot be seen in the _______ ________ ________?

Answer 1

Straight, visible light spectrum.

Question 2

What are the three basic components necessary for the production of X-rays in a X-ray tube?

Answer 2

1. ) Cathode and tungsten filament to supply electrons.
2. ) A high voltage to accelerate electrons.
3. ) An anode (or target focal spot) on which the electrons are focused and where they interact to generate X-rays.

Question 3

What is Primary Radiation?

Answer 3

The main beam or X-ray energy emitted from the X-ray tube head. This records an image on the X-ray film.

Question 4

What is Secondary Radiation?

Answer 4

Occurs when primary radiation collides with matter. Another form of this is scatter radiation.

Question 5

What kind of wave lengths do low energy X-rays have, and what is the disadvantage of them?

Answer 5

Longer wavelengths, and they have a lower penetration power, and represent a radiation hazard.

Question 6

An aluminum disk filters out less penetrating rays before they leave the X-ray machine, while letting the more penetrating rays through. What is the thickness of this aluminum disk?

Answer 6

2mm to 2.5mm.

Question 7

What is the size of the film that is illuminated, in inches?

Answer 7

1-1/4 x 1-5/8 inches.

Question 8

What does Collimation do?

Answer 8

Limits the size of the X-ray beam located within the X-ray tube.

Question 9

What controls the quality, or penetrating power of the X-ray?

Answer 9

The kVp. (Kilvolt peak)

Question 10

What controls the quantity of X-rays produced?

Answer 10

The mA. (Milliamperage)

Question 11

What is a normal/acceptable range for the kVp?

Answer 11

50 kVp to 100 kVp.

Question 12

What is a normal/acceptable rang for the mA?

Answer 12

5 mA to 15 mA.

Question 13

When are X-rays produced?

Answer 13

When the electrons strike the target.

Question 14

What does the extension arm do?

Answer 14

Allows for positioning of the tube head.

Question 15

What is the purpose of the Tube Head?

Answer 15

Mental housing device that protects the X-ray tube from damage and shock from over heating.

Question 16

Explain what the PID looks like and what it does.

Answer 16

Open-ended, lead lined port, through which the central X-ray beam exits.

Question 17

PID’s come in 2 types of shapes. What are they?

Answer 17

1. ) Cylindrical

2. ) Rectangular

Question 18

What does the rectangular shaped PID do, that the cylindrical PID does not do?

Answer 18

Reduces the amount of eadiation exposure to the patient.

Question 19

The longer the PID, the _______ radiation exposure to the patient.

Answer 19

Less.

Question 20

What does the aluminum filter do?

Answer 20

Absorbs the poor quality radiation (long wavelength)

Question 21

What are 3 things that need to be considered in regards to each individual patient, before exposing them to radiographs?

Answer 21

1. ) Pregnancy
2. ) Past or current radiation therapy
3. ) Availability or previous radiographs