Radiation Biology: Concepts, Effects, and Measurement in
Dental Imaging questions with well verified answers
What is radiation biology?
The study of the effects of ionizing radiation on living tissue.
What does exposure measure in radiation biology?
Exposure measures the ionization produced in air by x-radiation.
What is dose in the context of radiation?
Dose is the amount of energy absorbed by tissue.
What are the three possible interactions of x-rays with matter?
A. X-rays pass through and hit the receptor; B. X-rays are absorbed in the patient; C. X-rays are
scattered.
What happens during no interaction of x-ray photons?
The x-ray photon passes through the atom unchanged and leaves the atom unchanged.
What is the photoelectric effect?
An x-ray photon collides with a tightly bound, inner-shell electron, giving up all its energy to
eject the electron from its orbit.
What occurs during Compton scatter?
An x-ray photon collides with a loosely bound, outer-shell electron, losing part of its energy and
continuing in a different direction.
What is coherent scatter?
An x-ray photon has its path altered by matter without changing the atom, resulting in scattered
radiation.
What mechanisms of injury can result from radiation exposure?
Ionization and free radical formation.
What is ionization in radiation biology?
The process that occurs when x-rays strike patient tissue, resulting in a positive atom and a
dislodged negative electron.
Dental Imaging questions with well verified answers
What is radiation biology?
The study of the effects of ionizing radiation on living tissue.
What does exposure measure in radiation biology?
Exposure measures the ionization produced in air by x-radiation.
What is dose in the context of radiation?
Dose is the amount of energy absorbed by tissue.
What are the three possible interactions of x-rays with matter?
A. X-rays pass through and hit the receptor; B. X-rays are absorbed in the patient; C. X-rays are
scattered.
What happens during no interaction of x-ray photons?
The x-ray photon passes through the atom unchanged and leaves the atom unchanged.
What is the photoelectric effect?
An x-ray photon collides with a tightly bound, inner-shell electron, giving up all its energy to
eject the electron from its orbit.
What occurs during Compton scatter?
An x-ray photon collides with a loosely bound, outer-shell electron, losing part of its energy and
continuing in a different direction.
What is coherent scatter?
An x-ray photon has its path altered by matter without changing the atom, resulting in scattered
radiation.
What mechanisms of injury can result from radiation exposure?
Ionization and free radical formation.
What is ionization in radiation biology?
The process that occurs when x-rays strike patient tissue, resulting in a positive atom and a
dislodged negative electron.
