X-ray production, ALARA, dose units, pregnancy considerations, iodinated and gadolinium contrast reactions and premedication.
40 cards · basic cards · AI-written, checked twice. Edit anything.
- What happens inside an X-ray tube to produce X-rays?
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Electrons from the cathode are accelerated and strike the anode target, producing X-ray photons.- What is the role of the cathode in an X-ray tube?
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It is the heated filament that is the source of electrons.- What metal is commonly used as the anode target material in diagnostic X-ray tubes?
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Tungsten- What is bremsstrahlung radiation?
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X-rays produced when electrons are decelerated and deflected by the target nucleus, creating a continuous energy spectrum.- What is characteristic radiation in X-ray production?
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X-rays emitted with specific energies when an incoming electron ejects an inner-shell electron and an outer electron fills the gap.- What does increasing kVp (tube voltage) primarily change about the X-ray beam?
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It increases the beam's energy and penetrating power (beam quality).- What does increasing mA (tube current) primarily change about the X-ray beam?
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It increases the number of X-ray photons produced (beam quantity).- Why is filtration added to the X-ray beam?
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To remove low-energy photons that would only add patient dose without contributing to the image.- What is the anode heel effect?
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A variation in X-ray beam intensity across the field, with the cathode side of the beam being more intense than the anode side.- What is the purpose of a grid placed between the patient and the image receptor?
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To absorb scattered radiation and improve image contrast.- The radiation safety principle of ____ means keeping radiation doses as low as reasonably achievable.
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ALARA- What are the three cardinal principles of radiation protection?
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Time, distance, and shielding.- According to the inverse square law, what happens to radiation dose when distance from the source doubles?
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The dose decreases to one-fourth of its original value.- What lead equivalence is typical for a standard diagnostic radiology protective apron?
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0.5 mm lead equivalent.- How does collimating the X-ray beam benefit the patient and the image?
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It reduces the patient's radiation dose and reduces scatter, improving image contrast.
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