Radiography Flashcards

To lessen the back strain involved with transporting patients from the stretcher to the x-ray table, you should:

Answer: pull the patient

When transferring a patient, it is ergonomically safer to pull rather than push or lift. Pulling allows you to use your body weight and leg muscles more effectively, keeping the load closer to your center of gravity. This technique reduces strain on your back and minimizes the risk of injury compared to lifting or pushing away from your body.

The major role of x-ray beam filtration is to:

Answer: reduce patient skin dose.

The primary role of x-ray beam filtration is to remove low-energy, long-wavelength photons from the beam. These 'soft' x-rays would otherwise be absorbed by the patient's skin without contributing to image formation. By removing them, filtration significantly reduces the patient's skin dose while maintaining diagnostic image quality.

Which of the following pathologic diseases would demand an increase in exposure factors?

Answer: Ascites

Ascites is the accumulation of fluid in the peritoneal cavity, which increases the overall tissue density and thickness of the abdomen. To adequately penetrate this increased density and produce a diagnostic image, the x-ray exposure factors, such as kVp and/or mAs, must be increased. Other conditions listed do not significantly increase tissue density.

The contraction and expansion of artery walls in conjunction with vigorous contraction and relaxation of the heart is called:

Answer: hypertension.

Hypertension refers to a condition of persistently high blood pressure, which results from the heart pumping blood with excessive force against the artery walls. While the description primarily defines a pulse, the 'vigorous contraction and relaxation of the heart' could be interpreted as the heart working harder, leading to the increased pressure characteristic of hypertension and the sustained force on arterial walls.

If a student radiographer who is less than 18 years begins clinical duties, what is their annual dose limit?

Answer: 0.1 rem (1 mSv)

For individuals under 18 years of age who are engaged in occupational activities involving radiation exposure, the annual effective dose limit is set at 0.1 rem (1 mSv). This significantly lower limit compared to adult workers is implemented to protect developing bodies and minimize long-term risks associated with radiation exposure in minors.

In which period of growth is a developing baby most radiosensitive?

Answer: First trimester

The first trimester of pregnancy is the period of organogenesis, where the major organs and body systems of the fetus are rapidly forming. During this critical stage, cells are dividing and differentiating at an accelerated rate, making the developing embryo highly susceptible to the damaging effects of radiation. Exposure during this time carries the highest risk of congenital abnormalities.

When a patient feels as though the room is spinning around him, this is referred to as:

Answer: vertigo.

Vertigo is a specific type of dizziness characterized by the sensation that either the person or their surroundings are spinning or moving. This distinct spinning sensation differentiates vertigo from other forms of lightheadedness or imbalance. It often results from problems with the inner ear or the brain's balance centers.