What type of radiation travels in-air from the x-ray tube to the patient?

Primary radiation refers to the x-rays that are directly emitted from the x-ray tube toward the patient. This type of radiation is responsible for the initial imaging process, as it is the radiation that has not yet interacted with any matter, including the patient's body. When the x-ray machine is activated, the primary radiation travels through the air in a straight line until it reaches the area being imaged.

Understanding primary radiation is crucial because it represents the initial, unaltered energy that will eventually produce the image on the radiography film or detector after interacting with the tissues of the patient. This process contrasts with other types of radiation, such as scattered radiation, which results from the interaction of x-rays with tissues and can affect image quality, or remnant radiation, which is that portion of the primary radiation that passes through the patient and contributes to the final image after interactions have occurred.

Attenuated radiation, on the other hand, refers to the portion of the x-ray beam that has lost intensity due to absorption or scattering. Understanding these distinctions helps in grasping how imaging techniques work and the physics behind x-ray technology.