Saint Louis University School of Name:

Natural Sciences DEPARTMENT OF

RADIOLOGIC Date submitted:
TECHNOLOGY SCORE: Individual: (+) (-)
Prepared by:
Mariflor Valdez – Valbuena, RRT, MAEd (Sci. Ed.) FINAL SCORE:

STUDENT ACTIVITY # 5: Mastery of X-RAY TUBE PARTS, COMPOSITION AND FUNCTION

OBJECTIVES: At the end of the activity, the student: (a) is familiar with the appearance of the different parts of the x-ray tube; (b) identifies the difference(s)
between the stationary and rotating x-ray tube; (c) relates the composition to the function of the part; and, (d) is able to comprehend the importance of handlin g
the x-ray tube with caution & care.

PROVIDED MATERIALS: actual x-ray tube models in the laboratory

REQUIRED MATERIALS: pencil, ruler, black & blue ballpen, and reference materials

PROCEDURE: After the laboratory visit:

(1) Draw the specified type of x-ray tube on the space provided for. Observe parallelism between the parts of the two types of x-ray tube.
(2) Label the parts on the space provided for by utilizing only A WORD to label COMMON parts with the use of black ballpen. Unco mmon parts should be
labeled with blue ballpen.

PRE-ACTIVITY READING:
The x-ray tube is a component of the x-ray machine rarely or completely unseen by the Radiologic Technologist because it is contained in a protective housing.
Without the x-ray tube, an x-ray machine is of no use since it is where x-rays come from, thus, it is often referred to as the „heart‟ of the machine.
There are two primary parts: the cathode and the anode. The cathode is the negative side of the x-ray tube and can be further divided in two primary parts – the
filament and the focusing cup. The coil of wire that usually glows (resembling that in a bread toaster) during x-ray production - is the filament. This structure is
deeply embedded on a negative metal shroud known as the focusing cup. The latter‟s function is to concentrate the electrons produced by the filament in a single
area in preparation for target bombardment.
The anode, the positive part of the x-ray tube, gives the basis in which an x-ray tube is named. It could either be stationary or rotating. Whatever type it is, the
primary part is still the same – the target – the area of the anode struck by the electrons from the cathode. A copper block angled at one end holds the target
permanently, thus, called stationary. For the rotating type, the anode stem enables the rotation of the target aided by the induction motors - the stator punchings
located externally and the rotor which is inside the envelope.

***NOTE:
• The table & Q&A part should be uniform for the entire group. Therefore, all members should evaluate their group answer before finalizing it.
• Answers for the Q & A part should only be made of 2 – 5 words or phrase that will fit the space provided for.

Page 1
 Stationary anode x-ray tube

L
A
B
E
L
S

Rotating anode x-ray tube

 Condition necessary for x-ray Function Composition How does its composition aide in its function?
production it provides
(0.5 may be given) (perfect or zero) (0.5 may be given)
(0.5 may be given)

CATHODE

Filament

Focusing Cup

ANODE

Target

Copper block
(S)

Stem (R)

Rotor (R)

ENVELOPE
 Saint Louis University School of Name:
Natural Sciences DEPARTMENT OF
RADIOLOGIC Date submitted:
TECHNOLOGY SCORE: Individual: (+) (-)
Prepared by:
Mariflor Valdez – Valbuena, RRT, MAEd (Sci. Ed.) FINAL SCORE:

STUDENT ACTIVITY # 6: Proficiency on ELECTRON – TARGET INTERACTION

OBJECTIVES: At the end of the activity, the student correctly: (a) illustrates the various interactions between the electron and target; (b) discuss the events that
take place in each interaction; (c) utilize appropriate terms in describing the various interactions; and, (d) appreciates th e role of technologist in the creation of
each interaction.

REQUIRED MATERIALS: reference books, pencil, ruler, black, blue, green and red ballpens

PROCEDURE: Using the reference book:

(a) Read the events of each electron – target interaction
(b) Illustrate the interactions utilizing the specific colors of ballpen assigned for easier comparison. (atomic structure – pencil; projectile electron and its
movement – black; orbital electrons and its movement – blue; x-ray produced – red)

***NOTE:
The table and Q & A should be the same for the whole group. Therefore, all members should evaluate their group answer before finalizing it.

PRE-ACTIVITY READING

The following are produced during electron-target interaction: Characteristic radiation - The XR energy has an energy equal to the difference in the binding
energies of the orbital electrons involved, therefore, the name of X-ray depends on the shell electron that was ionized. It is important to note that L XRs and other
shell electron have low energy levels, therefore, these characteristic x-rays are useless as diagnostic XRs because it will only be absorbed by the soft tissue…
ONLY THE K-XRs WITH AN AVERAGE OF 69 keV is useful. The binding energy differs for every element, thus, the energy of characteristi c XRs produced in the
various elements also differs. Bremsstrahlung radiation - This came from a German word which means “slowing down” or “braking”. The bremsstrahlung
radiation associated with the loss can take on a corresponding range of values. Lastly, Anode Heat –also known as electromagnetic energy. Only 1% of the
kinetic energy of projectile electrons is used for the production of XR & 99% is converted to heat, therefore, sophisticated as it is, the XRT is very inefficient
***Brems XRs can be produced at any projectile electron energy while for K-charac. XRs, it requires a tube potential of at least 70 kVp. At 65 kVp, no useful
charac. XRs are produced and therefore, the XR beam is all bremsstrahlung. At 100 kVp, approximately 15% of the XR beam is charac. rad’n while the rest is
brems rad’n
***The efficiency of XR production is independent of the tube current. Consequently, regardless of what mA station is select ed, the efficiency of XR production
remains constant. The efficiency of XR production increases with increasing kVp – 60 kVp: 0.5% electron kinetic energy converted to XR, 100: 1% and 20 MV :
70%
Complete the table: Projectile electron interacts It is produced when: Its energy is dependent on:
with:
Characteristic radiation

Bremsstrahlung radiation

Heat energy

Draw the products of electron-target interaction

Heat Energy Characteristic radiation Bremsstrahlung radiation

Knowing the occurrence and nature of the following interactions, what should the Radiologic Technologist keep in mind as to:
(a) Heat energy
(b) Bremsstrahlung radiation
(c) Characteristic radiation
 Saint Louis University School of Name:
Natural Sciences DEPARTMENT OF
RADIOLOGIC Date submitted:
TECHNOLOGY SCORE: Individual: (+) (-)
Prepared by:
Mariflor Valdez – Valbuena, RRT, MAEd (Sci. Ed.) FINAL SCORE:

STUDENT ACTIVITY # 7: Comprehension of X-RAY – TARGET INTERACTION

OBJECTIVES: At the end of the activity, the student: (a) is familiar with the different x-ray interactions with matter; (b) identifies the interactions
possible in field of radiology; (c) relates the interaction with the imaging products in radiology; and, (d) is able to comprehend ways in which the
Radiologic Technologist could minimize adverse effects and enhance the useful effects of x-ray interaction with matter.

REQUIRED MATERIALS: pencil, ruler, green and black/blue ball pen, and reference materials

PROCEDURE:
(1) As a group, complete the table using PHRASES, thus, before writing your final answer, all members should have agreed with it.
(2) Drawings should be done INDIVIDUALLY observing the use of the following: pencil – atomic structure; green – products of the interaction;
black / blue ball pen - labels

PRE-ACTIVITY READING:

X-rays interact with matter in 5 ways: (1) Coherent scattering, (2) Compton scattering, (3) Photoelectric effect, (4) Pair production, and (5)
Photodisintegration. This interaction have a wavelike and particle-like properties. X-rays have very short wavelengths, approximately 10-8 to 10-9
m. The higher the energy of an x-ray, the shorter is its wavelength. Consequently, low-energy x-rays tend to interact with whole atoms, which
have diameters of approximately 10-9 to 10-10 m; moderate energy x-rays generally interact with electrons, and high energy x-rays interact with
nuclei. These interactions have dichotomized results in radiologic procedures. Some are advantageous and some have negative effect. One of
the advantages is differential absorption.

Radiographic diagnosis is made possible by differential absorption - difference between x-rays absorbed and those transmitted to the image
receptor. Radiopaque parts are anatomical structures with high x-ray absorption characteristics and radiolucent parts are the anatomical
structures through which x-rays pass. Approximately 1% of the x-rays incident (useful/ primary beam) on a patient reach the image receptor.
Fewer than half of those that reach the image receptor (remnant radiation) interact to form an image. Thus, the radiographic image results from
approximately 0.5% of the x-rays emitted by the x-ray tube. Consequently, careful control and selection of the x-ray beam are necessary to
produce high-quality radiographs
Complete the table: Coherent Scattering Compton Scattering Photoelectric effect Pair Production Photodisintegration
Produced at x-ray energy
level of:
X-ray interacted with:

Effect of x-ray interaction

with matter:
Products of interaction
(describe each completely)
if there is:

If none, just place none

Importance in radiology
Draw the x-ray interaction with matter
Coherent Scattering (Thompson/ Classical) Compton Scattering Photoelectric

Pair Production Photodisintegration