In X-ray imaging, what does mAs primarily control?

In X-ray imaging, mAs, which stands for milliampere-seconds, primarily controls image density. When mAs is increased, the quantity of radiation produced by the X-ray tube also increases, resulting in a greater amount of exposure to the film or digital receptor. This greater exposure typically leads to a darker image, as more photons are absorbed by the receptor. Conversely, lowering the mAs reduces the number of X-rays produced, resulting in a lighter image due to decreased exposure.

Understanding that mAs directly influences the overall image density is crucial for X-ray technicians, as achieving the correct density is essential for accurate diagnostics. While mAs can affect aspects like contrast and radiation dose, its primary role is in determining how dark or light the final image appears based on the amount of incident radiation.