What term refers to the path of the central rays from the source through the object?

• A. Tangential
• B. Projection
• C. Axial
• D. Cephalic

Answer: (B)

Projection describes the path of the central rays from the X-ray source as they travel through the object and reach the image receptor, shaping the image that is formed. This term specifically captures how the beam passes through the anatomy to create the radiograph. Tangential would mean the beam just skims a surface rather than passes through, axial refers to alignment along an axis, and cephalic is a directional term toward the head. So the pathway through the object to the receptor is what defines the projection.