Introduction, history & basic physics

-X-rays were first discovered in 1895 by the German physicist William Roentgen,
when using a Crookes tube. -He called them ‘x’ rays (x = unknown).

Site of discovery
Roentgen's lab where, on 8 November 1895, he noticed an extraordinary glow
while investigating the behavior of light outside a shrouded cathode tube.
To his astonishment, he saw the shadows of the bones of his hand when held
between the tube and a fluorescent screen. Within two months he had published a
carefully reasoned description of his work and the famous radiograph of his wife's
hand.
-The first x-ray photograph: Roentgen’s wife Bertha’s hand

Clinical Exam + Radiographs – Diagnosis – Treatment.

Bitewing Radiograph Periapical Radiograph Panoramic Radiograph

-Radiation: is energy that travels through space or matter.

-Two types of radiation used in diagnostic imaging are:
1. Particulate Radiation 2. Electromagnetic spectrum
-Consists of small particles of matter -Consists of energy in small packets
moving through space at a very high called photons.
velocity. -They are grouped according to their
-it’s generally not used as imaging wave length and frequency.
radiation because of its low tissue -EM radiation includes:
penetration. gamma x- visible radiofrequency
-ex. Electron, alfa particles. rays rays light

-Electromagnetic radiation: is the

transport of energy through space as a
combination of electric and magnetic
fields.
-EM radiation is produced by a charge
(charged particle) being accelerated .
-Any accelerating charge not bound to
atom will emit EM radiation .
-they differs from each other in: that the particles consist of matter and have mass.
-X-rays are electromagnetic radiation of exactly the same nature as light but of
very much shorter wavelength.

Atoms structures
• Protons Positively charged in nucleus.
• Neutrons of no charge also in the nucleus.
• Electrons Negatively charged in various orbits around the nucleus.

-Atomic number: is the number of protons.

-Lighter elements have fewer number of protons such as oxygen.
-Heavier elements have more such as lead.

X-ray Production
-For most medical application X-rays are produced using evacuated tubes in which
the electrons are accelerated up to high speed using large voltages.
-The X-rays are produced when the electrons hits a metal target.
-Higher the A of the target, the more x-ray production

X-ray Characteristics
1. Travel in straight line
2. Cannot be focused to a point
3. Differentially absorbed
4. Cause fluorescence
5. Harmful to living tissue
6. High energy waves
7. No charge (neutral)
8. No mass
9. Invisible
10. Travel at speed of light

X-ray Machine
1. Tubehead
2. Support arms
3. Control panel