DENSITY

FACTORS:

milliAmpereage second (mAs)

• mAs is the product of exposure time and x-ray tube current; it measures the total number of electrons or x-ray photons produced from the x-ray tube. Therefore, it is responsible for the x-ray QUANTITY.

• High mAs = High Patient Dose

• High mAs = High Shades of Gray

kiloVoltage peak (kVp)

• kVp measures the maximum potential across an X-ray tube and is expressed in kilovolts (kV). It is the penetrating ability of an x-ray beam and is responsible for x-ray QUALITY.

• Responsible for Penetrating Ability (P.A.)

• and Scatter Radiation (SR)

Focal-Film-Distance (Source-Image receptor-Distance)

• just the product of FOD(SOD) + OFD(OID)

Intensifying Screen (I.S)

• sensitive phosphor that converts x-rays into larger light photons to shorten exposure time and reduce patient dose.

• FAST

• MEDIUM

• SLOW

Pathology

• ADDITIVE PATHOLOGY (radiopaque=white)

• DESTRUCTIVE PATHOLOGY (radiolucent=black)

Film Processing

• MANUAL

• AUTOMATIC

• DAYLIGHT

Film Emulsion

• SINGLE

• DOUBLE

Heel Effect

• ANODE

• CATHODE