Radiologic Technologist Practice Exam

In digital radiography, the component that converts x-rays into a digital signal is known as?

1. Image receptor

2. Computerized axial tomography (CAT)

3. Radiographic film

4. Charge-coupled device (CCD)

The correct answer is: Image receptor

The component that converts x-rays into a digital signal in digital radiography is called the image receptor. In this context, the image receptor is primarily composed of either a flat-panel detector or a photostimulable phosphor plate. These components are essential in capturing the x-ray photons emitted from the patient and converting them into an electronic signal that can subsequently be processed to create digital images. This process enables immediate acquisition and visualization of radiographic images, providing significant advantages over traditional film-based methods and enhancing the efficiency of diagnostic imaging. In contrast, computerized axial tomography (often known as CT) is a different imaging technique that utilizes a series of x-ray images taken from various angles and reconstructs them into cross-sectional views of the body— it does not directly relate to the conversion of x-rays into digital signals for radiography. Radiographic film is a medium used in conventional radiography, where film is exposed to x-rays to produce a latent image that must be processed chemically, contrasting with the digital conversion that the image receptor provides. A charge-coupled device (CCD) is a type of electronic sensor that could be used in some imaging systems, but it is not the overarching term used for all digital radiography systems, making the term image receptor