Properties of the X-ray Beam

These flashcards cover key terms and concepts related to the properties of X-ray beams, including beam quantity, quality, and associated factors.

Compensating filters

Devices that adjust for variations in patient thickness or density, creating a more uniform exposure to the image receptor.

Beam Quantity

The total number of x-ray photons in a beam, affected by mAs, kVp, distance, and filtration.

Inverse Square Law

States that the intensity of a beam is inversely proportional to the square of the distance from the source.

Filtration

A process that decreases x-ray quantity by absorbing low-energy photons that do not contribute to the image.

Beam Quality

Refers to the penetrating power of the x-ray beam, which affects how well it can transmit through the body to reach the image receptor.

Half Value Layer (HVL)

The thickness of absorbing material needed to reduce the energy of the beam to half its original intensity.

Primary beam

The x-ray beam as it is upon exiting the collimator to expose the patient.

Remnant beam

The x-ray beam that remains after interaction with the patient, exiting to expose the image receptor.

X-ray Production

The process where kinetic energy from filament electrons is converted to heat and x-ray photons.

High-quality (hard) beams

X-ray beams with high energy and greater penetrating power.

Low-quality (soft) beams

X-ray beams with low energy and less penetrating power.

mAs

Milliampere-seconds, a factor that when increased, increases the quantity of x-rays produced.

kVp

Kilovolt peak, a factor that affects both the quantity and quality of the x-ray beam.