LIZLIN NOEMI C.

BAJADA MED-3
X-radiation (composed of X-rays) is a form of electromagnetic radiation. X-radiation is referred
to with terms meaning Rntgen radiation, after Wilhelm Rntgen, who is usually credited as its
discoverer, and who had named it X-radiation to signify an unknown type of radiation.
Wilhelm Konrad Rontgen(1895) working with a Hittorf-Crookes type light proof cathode ray
tube discovered that a card board covered with barium platinocyanide crystals would fluoresce
whenever a charge of cathode ray passed through the tube. Fluorescence would occur despite
placement of certain material between the tube and the phosphorescent surface.

PRODUCTION OF X-RAYS
Within the X-ray Tube
a. Important components of the X-ray tube
Glass-encase tube air removed, creating a vacuum; an electrode is at either end.
Cathode tungsten filament provided with a separate circuit (high amperage low voltage) for
heating the filament and thereby producing electron.
Anode target connected to a copper.
The major electrical circuit (low milliamperage, high voltage) between the anode and
cathode, creates a large potential difference, and a stream of electrons, (cathode rays),
passes from one to the other.
When the cathode rays strike the target tremendous heat evolves and some x-rays are
produced but the cross sectional area of the x-rays produced is controlled both by area
of the anode and by the angle of reflection of the rays. The cross-sectional area at the
site of origin of the x-rays is called the effective focal spot size, usually ranging
between 0.5 mm and 2.0 mm.
The size of the effective focal point spot is responsible for the detail of the roentgen
images
produced.
The smaller the effective focal spot the better the detail. lesser shadow effect
(penumbra and numbra) around the image.
Other ancillary components of the X-ray tube:
1. Focusing Cup directs the stream of electrons
2. Special Grid Devices facilitates extremely short exposures times.

3. Most X-ray tubes come equipped with two

anodes each of a different size, since the
smaller
the target the greater the problem of heat dissipation; and when an abundance

of x-rays is
necessary.

required to penetrate large anatomic parts the

larger target may be

A. A body part maybe visualized radiography

on the following bases:
1. By its delineation with naturally occurring fatty envelope (or fascia)
2. By its naturally occurring gaseous content (lungs; gastrointestinal tract)
3. By its naturally occurring mineral; salts, e.g. calcium salts of bone
4. By abnormally occurring gas, fat, or calcium salts
5. By the introduction of a contrast agent, which maybe be either radiolucent or
radiopaque, into or around the body part. Such contrast agents should be
physiologically inert and harmless.
B. Commonly used Contrast Media
1. Barium Sulfate particularly useful in the study of the gastrointestinal tract. Inert, most
absorbable and
does not alter the manual physiologic function.
2. Organic Iodides predominantly expected by the liver and concentrated in the biliary
tract. Administered orally e.g. telepaque and intravenously - e.g. Biligrafin
3. Organic Iodides which are predominantly excreted or selectively by the kidneys e.g.
Hypaque
These compound also widely favored for the visualization of blood vessels in low
concentration.
4. Organic Iodides in suspension visualization of oviducts and urethra e.g., Salphix
5. Iodides Oils slowly absorbable used in myelography or in broncography.
6. Radiolucent Contrast media are gases e.g. air, oxygen, helium,CO , nitrous oxide and
2

nitrogen commonly used for visulaizationof the brain (pneumoencephalograms and

ventriculograms), joints (arthrograms),and subarachnoid space
surroundings the spinal cord
(myelograms). Air is also
used in the pleural space, peritoneal cavity and
peucardial
space. Carbon dioxide is the choice since it is well tolerated and very rapidly absorbed.
7. Non-ionic soluble iodides.