Which tissue type tends to experience the highest absorbed dose during a radiographic exposure?

Which tissue type tends to experience the highest absorbed dose during a radiographic exposure?

• A. Air
• B. Muscle
• C. Fat
• D. Bone

Answer: (D)

Absorbed dose is the amount of energy deposited per unit mass in a tissue. In a radiographic exposure, energy from the X-ray beam is deposited where photons interact with matter. Bone is much denser and richer in calcium than soft tissues or air, giving it more atoms and electrons to interact with each photon. This higher interaction probability means more energy is transferred to bone per unit mass, so the absorbed dose in bone is greater than in muscle or fat. Air has very low density, so it absorbs almost no energy and receives virtually no dose. Thus, bone tends to receive the highest absorbed dose during a typical radiographic exposure.

Absorbed dose is the amount of energy deposited per unit mass in a tissue. In a radiographic exposure, energy from the X-ray beam is deposited where photons interact with matter. Bone is much denser and richer in calcium than soft tissues or air, giving it more atoms and electrons to interact with each photon. This higher interaction probability means more energy is transferred to bone per unit mass, so the absorbed dose in bone is greater than in muscle or fat. Air has very low density, so it absorbs almost no energy and receives virtually no dose. Thus, bone tends to receive the highest absorbed dose during a typical radiographic exposure.