Preliminary Steps in Radiography

A collection of vocabulary flashcards related to the preliminary steps in radiography, featuring key terms and their definitions.

Radiographer

A radiologic technologist who administers ionizing radiation to perform radiographic procedures.

Image Receptor

The device that receives the energy of the x-ray beam and forms the image of the body part.

Gonad Shielding

A technique used to protect reproductive organs during radiographic procedures.

Collimation

The restriction of the radiation field to irradiate only the anatomy of interest, minimizing patient exposure.

Source-to-Image Receptor Distance (SID)

The distance from the anode inside the x-ray tube to the image receptor, which affects magnification and patient dose.

Voluntary Motion

Movement by the patient that can be controlled through clear instructions and comfort measures.

Involuntary Motion

Uncontrollable movements such as tremors or peristalsis that can affect image quality.

Standard Precautions

A set of infection control practices that are used to prevent transmission of diseases among patients.

Ethics in Radiologic Technology

The moral principles that govern the professional conduct of radiologic technologists.

Technical Factors

Parameters set by the radiographer such as milliamperage (mA), kilovolt peak (kVp), and exposure time.

Practice Standards

Written guidelines that define the scope of practice for radiographers, established by governing bodies.

Anatomic Markers

Markers placed on radiographs to indicate the patient's right or left side; required for legal and medical purposes.

Hand Hygiene

The practice of washing hands to prevent the spread of infections in healthcare settings.

Patient Care

Responsibilities of the radiographer to provide comfort and information about the imaging procedure to the patient.

Accessory Equipment

Items such as grids and positioning aids used to enhance the quality of radiographic images.