Lead apron is used to ...

• A. Protect the reproductive and blood forming tissues from scatter radiation.
• B. Enhance image sharpness.
• C. Protect the entire body from all radiation.
• D. Increase the x-ray beam intensity.

Answer: (A)

Lead aprons are used to shield sensitive tissues from scatter radiation produced during an X-ray exam. The main purpose is to protect reproductive organs and bone marrow (blood-forming tissues) that could be exposed to the secondary radiation leaving the patient. It doesn’t provide blanket protection for the entire body, and it doesn’t make the image sharper or increase the X-ray beam’s intensity. Instead, it simply absorbs some of the scattered photons to reduce the dose to those protected areas.