Which term describes the amount of information lost between the object and the image receptor?

The term that describes the amount of information lost between the object and the image receptor is known as the modulation transfer function (MTF). This concept quantifies how well an imaging system can reproduce the detail or contrast of an object as it appears in the captured image.

In essence, MTF measures the fidelity of the imaging process, indicating how effectively the original information is transferred to the image. A higher MTF value signifies that the imaging system preserves more detail from the object, while a lower value indicates greater information loss. This is particularly important in medical imaging, where clarity and accuracy are essential for diagnosis.

While the other terms relate to different aspects of imaging, they do not specifically address the loss of information in the way that MTF does. For instance, the line-focus principle refers to techniques used in x-ray tubes to improve sharpness and resolution, line-pair resolution deals with the ability to distinguish between closely spaced lines in an image, and image density pertains to the overall darkness or blackness of the image rather than the clarity of the information it conveys.