Which term describes the sharpness of an image?

The term that describes the sharpness of an image is radiographic resolution. Radiographic resolution refers to the ability of an imaging system to distinguish between small structures that are close together. It is a critical component of image quality in radiography, as it affects how well various anatomical details can be visualized. Higher resolution means finer details can be identified, which is essential for accurate diagnosis and assessment.

Image brightness pertains to the overall lightness or darkness of the image, which is different than sharpness. Contrast ratio generally refers to the difference in intensity between the light and dark areas in an image, which helps to highlight features but does not address the clarity of those features. Film density relates to the degree of opacity of the radiographic film, influencing how dark or light the film appears after exposure but is not a direct measure of image sharpness.

Understanding the nuances of these terms is important in radiologic technology, as they all contribute to the final interpretation of radiographic images, but radiographic resolution specifically addresses the sharpness of the image.