Dental Terminology - Radiography

anode

positive pole in X-ray tube that serves as the target for the electron force

aperture

opening or port in a collimator disk to regulate the size of an X-ray beam 

cathode

negative pole in X-ray tube that serves as an electron source 

cephalometric

pertaining to the head; in X-ray, a cephalometric film is a view of the entire head 

cephalostat

pin used to center and stabilize the head during X-ray exposure

collimator

device used to regulate the exit of an X-ray beam from the tube (colimador)

coulomb

international electromagnetic measurement

diaphragm

layer over the disc end of a stethoscope; enlarges or amplifies pulse sounds

dosimeter

measures the amount of stray or secondary X-ray exposure (dosimetro)

edentulous

without teeth

electromagnetic

physical force generating electricity produced by a magnetic current

elongation

radiographic placement error resulting in an extended length of the tooth image; ability of a metal to stretch before permanent deformation begins

erythema

skin redness that may be a result of radiation or allergy

filament

tungsten coil in the cathode focusing cup to generate the electrons

foreshortening

error in radiographic placement resulting in shortened tooth image on film surface

Frankfort plane

imaginary line from the tragus of the ear to the floor of the orbit that is used to align the maxillary arch parallel to the floor; used mostly for extraoral films.

Kilovolt

1000 volt unit; mA describes quantity of electrons that control the amount of X-rays produced in the primary beam

latent image

When film is exposed to X-rays, it forms an invisible image

laminagraphy

technique in which tissue images are collected and measured in slices or sections

milliampere

one-thousandth of an ampere (electric current)

Panoramic

capturing a view of the entire dentition with the surrounding structures on one film

phantom

device used for practice in learning radiation exposure techniques

phosphors

a substance that emits light when excited by radiation

polytomography

several slices or sections of the tooth or body

pseudocolor

selection of a color shade to enhance a digital image

radiant

energy that is given off from a central source

Radiology

the study of the human body by use of X-ray technology

Radiolucent

describes a radiograph that appears dark, or the ability of a substance to permit passage of X-rays, thereby causing the radiographic film to darken.

radiopaque

portion of the radiograph that appears light; the ability of a substance to resist radiation penetration resulting in light area on the film

teleradiography

the ability to transfer the captured information to other sites and sources by computer

tomogram

the finished image in a tomography procedure

volumetric

addition of volume to an image to produce a more 3D quality image

voxel

picture element giving depth and volume