What happens when field size is decreased from 14 x 17 to 8 x 10 inches?

When the field size is decreased from 14 x 17 inches to 8 x 10 inches, the overall area exposed to radiation is reduced. This directly influences receptor exposure, leading to a decrease in the amount of scattered radiation that reaches the imaging receptor. Smaller field sizes result in less tissue being irradiated, which minimizes scatter production since there is less matter for the primary beam to interact with.

As a result, the overall receptor exposure will decrease because there is less radiation being directed at the imaging receptor due to the smaller field size. The decrease in scatter radiation also contributes to a clearer image with potentially improved contrast, as less scattered radiation can lead to less fogging of the image. Thus, when transitioning to a smaller field size, both the receptor exposure and scatter are decreased, making this choice the most accurate.