Upgrade to remove ads
Busy. Please wait.
Log in with Clever
or

show password
Forgot Password?

Don't have an account?  Sign up 
Sign up using Clever
or

Username is available taken
show password


Make sure to remember your password. If you forget it there is no way for StudyStack to send you a reset link. You would need to create a new account.
Your email address is only used to allow you to reset your password. See our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service.


Already a StudyStack user? Log In

Reset Password
Enter the associated with your account, and we'll email you a link to reset your password.

Radiology and Dental Imaging Vocabulary

        Help!  

Term
Definition
ALARA concept   Concept of radiation protection that states that all exposures should be kept “as low as reasonably achievable.”  
🗑
Anode (AN-ode)   The positive electrode in the x-ray tube.  
🗑
Atom   The basic unit of matter.  
🗑
Bremsstrahlung radiation   “Braking radiation.” The sudden deceleration of electrons as they interact with highly positively charged nuclei.  
🗑
Cathode (KATH-ode)   The negative electrode in the x-ray tube.  
🗑
Central ray   X-rays at the center of the beam.  
🗑
Contrast   Differences in degrees of blackness on an image.  
🗑
Control panel   The portion of the x-ray unit that contains the master switch, the indicator light, the selector buttons, and the exposure button.  
🗑
Density   The overall darkness or blackness of an image.  
🗑
Dental radiography (ray-dee-OG-ruh-fee)   The process of recording images of the teeth and adjacent structures by exposure to x-radiation.  
🗑
Digital imaging   A filmless method of capturing an image and displaying it by using an image receptor, an electronic signal, and a computer to process and store the image.  
🗑
Distortion   Change in the size of an image caused by incorrect vertical angulation.  
🗑
Dose (of radiation)   The amount of energy absorbed by tissues.  
🗑
Dosimeter   A device used to detect and measure an accumulated dosage of radiation.  
🗑
Electron   A negatively charged particle in the atom.  
🗑
Energy   The ability to do work.  
🗑
Extension arm   Flexible arm that is attached to the x-ray tubehead.  
🗑
Genetic (juh-NE-tik) effects   Effects of radiation that are passed on to future generations through genetic cells.  
🗑
Image   Film-based or digitally produced recordings of anatomic structures.  
🗑
Image receptor   A recording medium for an image, normally film, phosphor storage plate (PSP), or a digital sensor.  
🗑
Intensity   The total energy of the x-ray beam.  
🗑
Ion (EYE-on)   An electrically charged particle.  
🗑
Ionization (eye-uh-ni-ZAY-shun)   Process by which electrons are removed from atoms, causing the harmful effects of radiation in humans.  
🗑
Ionizing (EYE-uh-nye-zing) radiation   Radiation that produces ionization, resulting in harmful effects.  
🗑
Kilovoltage (KIL-uh-voel-tuj) peak (kVp)   Highest voltage of x-ray tube used during an exposure.  
🗑
Latent (LAY-tent) period   Time between exposure to ionizing radiation and appearance of symptoms.  
🗑
Lead apron   Device used to protect the reproductive and blood-forming tissues from scatter radiation.  
🗑
Magnification   The proportional enlargement of an image.  
🗑
Master switch, indicator light, selector buttons, exposure button   Components of control panel.  
🗑
Matter   Anything that occupies space and has form or shape.  
🗑
Milliampere (mil-ee-AM-peer) (mA)   One one-thousandth (1/1000) of an ampere; a unit of measurement used to describe the intensity of an electrical current.  
🗑
Penumbra (puh-NUM-bruh)   The blurred or indistinct area that surrounds an image.  
🗑
Personal radiation monitoring badge   A device that measures exposure of personnel to ionizing radiation by measuring the intensity of visible light emitted from a crystal in the detector when heated. The intensity of light emitted is dependent upon the radiation exposure.  
🗑
Photon (FOE-ton)   A minute (tiny) bundle of pure energy that has no weight or mass.  
🗑
Primary beam   The most penetrating beam produced at the target of the anode  
🗑
Primary radiation   Same as primary beam.  
🗑
Quality (of x-ray beam)   The mean energy or penetrating ability of the x-ray beam.  
🗑
Quantity (of x-ray beam)   The number of x-rays produced in the dental unit; the quantity of x-rays produced is controlled by milliamperage.  
🗑
Radiation   Forms of waves of energy emission through space or material.  
🗑
Radiograph (RAY-dee-oe-graf)   Image produced on photosensitive film by exposing the film to radiation and then processing it.  
🗑
Radiology (ray-dee-OL-uh-jee)   The science or study of radiation as used in medicine.  
🗑
Scatter radiation   A form of secondary radiation that occurs when an x-ray beam has been deflected from its path by interaction with matter.  
🗑
Secondary radiation   X-radiation that is created when the primary beam interacts with matter.  
🗑
Sensor   A solid-state image receptor that contains a silicon chip with an electric circuit.  
🗑
Sharpness   A measure of how well an image reproduces the fine details or outline of an object.  
🗑
Somatic (soe-MAT-ik) effects   Effects of radiation that cause illness and are responsible for poor health (such as cancer, leukemia, and cataracts) but are not passed on to offspring.  
🗑
Thyroid collar   A flexible lead shield that is placed securely around the neck.  
🗑
Tubehead   The part of the x-ray unit that contains the x-ray tube, the high-voltage and low-voltage transformers, and insulating oil.  
🗑
Tungsten target   A focal spot in the anode.  
🗑
X-radiation   High-energy ionizing electromagnetic radiation.  
🗑
Automatic processor   Machine that automates all film processing steps.  
🗑
Beam alignment device   Assists in the positioning of the position indicator device (PID).  
🗑
Bitewing   Image view that shows the crowns of both arches on one film.  
🗑
Calcium tungstate   Common type of phosphor.  
🗑
Cassette   Contains extraoral films during exposure.  
🗑
Cephalometric film   Shows the bony and soft tissue areas of the facial profile.  
🗑
Charge-coupled device (CCD)   A solid-state image sensor used in intraoral digital imaging.  
🗑
Digital image   Electronic signals captured by sensors and displayed on computer monitors.  
🗑
Digitize   Scanning of traditional film-based radiographs into a digital image.  
🗑
Duplicating film   Film designed for use in film duplicating machines.  
🗑
Emulsion (ee-MUL-shun)   A coating on the x-ray film that contains energy-sensitive crystals.  
🗑
Extraoral film   Film designed for use in cassettes.  
🗑
Film speed   The sensitivity of the emulsion on the film to radiation.  
🗑
Intensifying screen   The part inside an extraoral cassette that converts x-ray energy into visible light, which in turn exposes screen film.  
🗑
Intraoral film   Film designed for placement in the patient’s mouth.  
🗑
Label side   Colored side of the film that faces the tongue.  
🗑
Latent image   The invisible image on the x-ray film after exposure but before processing.  
🗑
Occlusal   Radiographic view that shows large areas of the maxilla or mandible.  
🗑
Panoramic film   Used in cassettes to provide a wide view of both the upper and lower jaws.  
🗑
Periapical (per-ee-AP-i-kul)   Radiographic view that shows the crown, root tip, and surrounding structures.  
🗑
Phosphor storage plate (PSP)   Reusable film-sized plates coated with phosphor as the image receptor.  
🗑
Positioning instruments   Intraoral devices used to position and hold the film, sensor, or PSP.  
🗑
Processing   A series of steps that change exposed film into a radiograph. Steps include developing, rinsing, fixing, washing, and drying.  
🗑
Radiograph (RAY-dee-oe-graf)   Image produced on photosensitive film by exposing the film to radiation and then processing it.  
🗑
Teledentistry   Process of using electronic transfer of images and other information for consultation and/or insurance purposes in dentistry.  
🗑
Tube side   Solid white side of the film packet that faces the x-ray tube.  
🗑
Automatic processor   Machine that automates all film processing steps.  
🗑
Beam alignment device   Assists in the positioning of the position indicator device (PID).  
🗑
   
🗑


   

Review the information in the table. When you are ready to quiz yourself you can hide individual columns or the entire table. Then you can click on the empty cells to reveal the answer. Try to recall what will be displayed before clicking the empty cell.
 
To hide a column, click on the column name.
 
To hide the entire table, click on the "Hide All" button.
 
You may also shuffle the rows of the table by clicking on the "Shuffle" button.
 
Or sort by any of the columns using the down arrow next to any column heading.
If you know all the data on any row, you can temporarily remove it by tapping the trash can to the right of the row.

 
Embed Code - If you would like this activity on your web page, copy the script below and paste it into your web page.

  Normal Size     Small Size show me how
Created by: ralphgonzales05