xray production and interaction 2.13 quiz

Secondary Photons

X-ray photons generated as a result of a characteristic cascade following the ionization of an atom in tissue, typically of lower energy.

Transmission

The passage of x-ray photons through a material or tissue without interaction, allowing them to reach the image receptor.

Photodisintegration

An interaction where very high-energy photons (above 10 MeV) strike the nucleus of an atom, causing it to emit a nuclear particle.

Photoelectric Interaction

Occur when an incident x-ray photon ejects an inner-shell electron from a tissue atom, leading to total absorption of the photon's energy.

Photoelectron

The electron ejected from an atom during a photoelectric interaction, carrying the kinetic energy difference between the incident photon's energy and the binding energy.

Differential Absorption

The difference in absorption rates of x-ray photons by various tissues, creating contrast in a radiographic image.

Main-Chain Scission

A radiation effect on macromolecules where the primary structure is broken, potentially leading to biological damage.

Occupational Exposure

The exposure to radiation received by radiographers and other healthcare workers as a result of performing their job duties.

Pair Production

An interaction occurring with high-energy photons (above 1.02 MeV), where an incident photon is absorbed by the nucleus, creating a positron and an electron.

Beam Quality

Refers to the penetrating power of the x-ray beam, affected by kVp and filtration.

Beam Quantity

The total number of x-ray photons in the beam.

Bremsstrahlung Interactions

Occur when a high-speed electron from the filament is slowed down and deflected by the nuclear field of a target atom nucleus, losing kinetic energy which is emitted as an x-ray photon.

Characteristic Cascade

A series of transitions by electrons in an atom from higher to lower energy levels, with the emission of characteristic x-ray photons at each transition.

Characteristic Interactions

Involve the ejection of an inner-shell electron by an incoming high-speed electron from the filament, creating a vacancy that is filled by an electron from a higher energy level.

Continuous Emission Spectrum

A graphical representation of the range of energies of photons produced by bremsstrahlung interactions within the x-ray tube.

Discrete Emission Spectrum

Represents the specific energies of photons produced by characteristic interactions within the x-ray tube.

Filtration

The process of removing low-energy x-ray photons from the beam using materials (usually aluminum) placed in the path of the beam.

Half-Value Layer (HVL)

A measure of beam quality, specifically its penetrative power, defined as the thickness of a specified material that reduces the intensity of the x-ray beam to half its original value.

Inverse Square Law

Describes how the intensity of the x-ray beam decreases proportionally to the square of the distance from the x-ray source.

Penetration

The ability of the x-ray beam to pass through materials, including body tissues, to reach the image receptor.

Primary Beam

The x-ray beam as it exits the x-ray tube and collimator, before any interaction with the patient or other objects.

Remnant Beam

The x-ray beam that exits the patient, consisting of transmitted and scattered radiation, which creates the image on the detector or film.

X-ray Emission Spectrum

A graphical representation of the overall energy distribution of an x-ray beam, combining the continuous spectrum of bremsstrahlung photons with the discrete lines of characteristic photons produced in the x-ray tube.

Absorption

The process by which x-ray photons are taken up by matter, particularly body tissues, leading to a decrease in the number of photons in the beam that can reach the image receptor.

Classical Interaction

Also known as coherent scattering or Thomson scattering, it occurs with low-energy x-ray photons (generally less than 10 keV).

Compton Electron

The electron ejected from an atom during a Compton interaction, where a moderate-energy incident x-ray photon collides with an outer electron.

Compton Scattering

A prevalent interaction in diagnostic radiography involving moderate-energy x-ray photons, where the incident photon ejects an outer-shell electron and is deflected at a lower energy.

Radiolucent

The difference in absorption rates of X-ray photons by which various tissues in the body which creates the contrast in a radiographic image

Radiopaque

Describes materials or tissues that absorb x-rays, efficiently, appearing lighter on the radiographic image due to reduced transmission of x-ray photons to the image receptor