Which component absorbs scattered radiation before it reaches the image receptor?

• A. Primary radiation
• B. Remnant radiation
• C. Scattered radiation
• D. Low-energy radiation before reaching the receptor

Answer: (C)

Scattered radiation is the unwanted photons produced as x-rays interact within the patient. These photons travel in all directions and some reach the image receptor, causing fog and reduced image contrast. The component designed to prevent this is the grid, placed between the patient and the receptor. The grid absorbs a large portion of the scattered photons while mostly allowing the primary beam to pass through, thereby improving image quality. The other terms describe different kinds of radiation rather than a device that blocks scatter, so the concept being tested is that scattered radiation is what gets absorbed before reaching the receptor.