Chapter 01: Preliminary Steps in Radiography
Long: Merrill’s Atlas of Radiographic Positioning and Procedures, 14th Edition

MULTIPLE CHOICE

	1.	The Radiography Practice Standards are written and maintained by the:
a.	American Registry of Radiologic Technologists.	
b.	American Medical Association.	
c.	American Society of Radiologic Technologists.	
d.	Joint Commission on Education in Radiologic Technology.	

ANS:	C

	2.	The Standards of Ethics for radiographers was written and is maintained by the:
a.	American Registry of Radiologic Technologists.	
b.	American Medical Association.	
c.	American Society of Radiologic Technologists.	
d.	Joint Commission on Education in Radiologic Technology.	

ANS:	A

	3.	Radiographic images of the hands, wrist, feet, and toes are routinely displayed with the digits:
a.	positioned toward the ceiling.	
b.	positioned toward the floor.	
c.	horizontal and pointed to the left.	
d.	horizontal and pointed to the right.	

ANS:	A

	4.	How often should the radiographic tabletop be cleaned?
a.	Only when visibly soiled	
b.	Weekly	
c.	Daily	
d.	After every procedure/patient	

ANS:	D

	5.	The easiest and most convenient method of preventing the spread of microorganisms is:
a.	wearing PPE.	
b.	following cough etiquette protocols.	
c.	handwashing.	
d.	proper handling of sharps.	

ANS:	C

	6.	All are apparent abnormalities that could affect the radiographic result and should be recorded by the radiographer in the clinical history, except:
a.	tattoos with ferrous pigments.	
b.	freckles and moles.	
c.	swelling or masses.	
d.	surface scars.	

ANS:	B

	7.	Involuntary motion can be caused by which of the following?
1. Peristalsis
2. Spasm
3. Breathing
a.	1 and 2	
b.	1 and 3	
c.	2 and 3	
d.	1, 2, and 3	

ANS:	A

	8.	Nervousness, discomfort, and fear are causes of:
a.	voluntary motion.	
b.	involuntary motion.	
c.	imaging procedure failure.	
d.	image artifacts.	

ANS:	A

	9.	Radiographers can control voluntary motion by:
a.	using a high kVp.	
b.	increasing the length of exposure time.	
c.	performing the examination in the recumbent position.	
d.	giving clear instruction to the patient.	

ANS:	D

	10.	Which type of accessory equipment reduces the amount of scatter and off-focus radiation that reaches the image receptor?
a.	Compensating filter	
b.	Grid	
c.	Sandbag	
d.	Sponge	

ANS:	B

	11.	Information that must be included on all radiographic images includes all of the following except:
a.	right or left side marker.	
b.	patient’s name or ID number.	
c.	radiographer’s name.	
d.	date of exam.	

ANS:	C

	12.	The metric conversion of 40 inches is _____ cm.
a.	16	
b.	18	
c.	90	
d.	102	

ANS:	D

	13.	The simplest and most common shape of compensating filter is the:
a.	wedge.	
b.	trough.	
c.	double-wedge.	
d.	Boomerang.	

ANS:	A

	14.	All are guidelines for gonad shielding, except:
a.	the gonads lie in the primary beam.	
b.	shielding is used when it will not compromise the exam objective.	
c.	patients with reasonable reproductive potential should be shielded.	
d.	gonad shields are only needed for pediatric patients.	

ANS:	D

	15.	What is the most common image receptor general position?
a.	Diagonal	
b.	Crosswise	
c.	Lengthwise	
d.	Vertical	

ANS:	C

	16.	The central or principle beam of x-rays is termed the:
a.	center beam (CB).	
b.	image beam (IB).	
c.	central ray (CR).	
d.	image receptor (IR).	

ANS:	C

	17.	The general goal for central ray placement is:
a.	parallel with the structure of interest.	
b.	perpendicular to the structure of interest.	
c.	angled along the long axis of the part of interest.	
d.	angled against the long axis of the part of interest.	

ANS:	B

	18.	What term is defined as the distance from the anode focal spot inside the x-ray tube to the image receptor?
a.	Collimation	
b.	Source-to-image receptor distance (SID)	
c.	Central ray (CR)	
d.	Image receptor (IR)	

ANS:	B

	19.	All of the following are affected by the SID used for a radiographic image, except:
a.	spatial resolution.	
b.	magnification of the anatomy in the image.	
c.	patient dose.	
d.	contrast resolution.	

ANS:	D

	20.	The image receptor used in computed radiography IRs is a:
a.	tethered solid-state digital detector.	
b.	wireless flat-panel detector.	
c.	cassette with film.	
d.	photostimulable storage phosphor imaging plate.	

ANS:	D

	21.	Blood and body fluid recommendations are issued by the:
a.	CDC.	
b.	ASRT.	
c.	ARRT.	
d.	JCAHO.	

ANS:	A

	22.	Each radiology department must write age-specific competencies to meet the standards of the:
a.	CDC.	
b.	ASRT.	
c.	ARRT.	
d.	JCAHO.	

ANS:	D

	23.	Gonad shielding is required when the gonads lie within ____ cm of the primary x-ray field.
a.	3	
b.	5	
c.	6	
d.	8	

ANS:	B

	24.	Which of the following radiographic examinations would give a male patient the highest gonad dose?
a.	Limb	
b.	Skull	
c.	Pelvis	
d.	Lumbar spine	

ANS:	C

	25.	Which of the following radiographic examinations would give a female patient the highest gonad dose?
a.	Limb	
b.	Skull	
c.	Pelvis	
d.	Lumbar spine	

ANS:	D

	26.	Which of the following is affected when imaging patients who are obese?
1. Image quality
2. Ability to transfer safely
3. Ability to find positioning landmarks
a.	1 and 2 only	
b.	1 and 3 only	
c.	2 and 3 only	
d.	1, 2, and 3	

ANS:	D

	27.	A fundamental responsibility of radiographers is to ensure that each radiation exposure upholds the ALARA concept. ALARA stands for:
a.	as low as reasonably achievable.	
b.	as long as radiograph is acceptable.	
c.	acceptable limits allowed for radiographic attempts.	
d.	attempts to lessen all radiographic allowances.	

ANS:	A

	28.	The source of radiation in an x-ray tube (the anode) shall not be closer than _____ inches from the patient.
a.	12	
b.	15	
c.	10	
d.	18	

ANS:	A

	29.	A physician who is board certified to read or interpret, x-ray examinations is a:
a.	hospitalist.	
b.	radiographer.	
c.	radiologist.	
d.	surgeon.	

ANS:	C

	30.	Which term refers to restriction of the exposure field?
a.	Collimation	
b.	Filter	
c.	Shuttering	
d.	Central ray (CR)	

ANS:	A

	31.	Which side marker would be placed on the image receptor on the edge of the collimated field for a radiographic image of a patient with an injured right hand?
a.	The left (L) marker on the left side of the patient’s right hand	
b.	The right (R) marker on the right side of the patient’s left hand	
c.	The left (L) marker on either side of the patient’s hand	
d.	The right (R) marker on either side of the patient’s hand	

ANS:	D

MULTIPLE RESPONSE

	1.	Radiographers who obtain additional education, clinical practice, and certification to provide advanced clinical imaging procedures are designated as which two of the following titles? (Select all that apply.)
a.	Radiologist deputies (RD)	
b.	Radiologist assistants (RA)	
c.	Radiology practitioner assistants (RPA)	
d.	Advanced radiography practitioners (ARP)	

ANS:	B, C

	2.	Which two are the most common pre-exposure breathing instructions for radiographic procedures? (Select all that apply.)
a.	Rapid, shallow breaths	
b.	Slow, deep breaths	
c.	At the end of inspiration	
d.	At the end of expiration	

ANS:	C, D

	3.	Collimation of the x-ray beam prompts which two of the following? (Select all that apply.)
a.	A decrease in radiographic contrast	
b.	An increase in radiographic contrast	
c.	A decrease of scatter radiation	
d.	An increase of scatter radiation	

ANS:	B, C

	4.	An increase in SID will result in which two of the following? (Select all that apply.)
a.	Decreased magnification	
b.	Increased magnification	
c.	Increased spatial resolution	
d.	Decreased spatial resolution	

ANS:	A, C