What is the Image Receptor (IR)?

• A. A recording medium for an image, normally film, phosphor storage plate (PSP), or a digital sensor
• B. A display monitor
• C. A processing algorithm
• D. A light source

Answer: (A)

The Image Receptor is the recording medium that captures the image during exposure. In traditional radiography, this is photographic film that darkens in proportion to x-ray exposure. In phosphor storage plate systems, the plate holds an invisible latent image that is later read by a scanner. In modern digital radiography, the receptor is a digital sensor that converts x-ray energy directly into an electrical signal to create the image. Its purpose is to receive and store or convert the x-ray information so the image can be produced and viewed. The display monitor is used to view the final image, not to record it; a processing algorithm handles the digital data after capture; and a light source is used to illuminate media for viewing, not to capture the image.