What kind of image artifact can occur due to motion during an X-ray exposure?

Motion during an X-ray exposure can lead to blurring or ghosting of the image. This occurs because the movement of the patient or the X-ray equipment during the exposure time causes multiple images to be captured on the film or digital sensor. As a result, the sharpness and detail of the image are compromised. Motion artifacts can obscure critical anatomical structures and may lead to misinterpretation of the radiographs, making it crucial to ensure that patients remain still during the exposure to obtain clear and diagnostic-quality images.

Other options signify different issues with imaging, such as overexposing or underexposing the image, which relate to the amount of radiation that reaches the film or detector, or excessive contrast, which pertains to the tonal differences in an image, none of which are directly linked to motion during exposure.