HOSA Dental Terminology Practice

What biological effect does 1 Rem of radiation produce equivalent to?

1. 1 Rad

2. 1 Gy

3. 1 R

4. 1 Sv

The correct answer is: 1 R

The correct choice identifies that 1 Rem of radiation is equivalent to 1 Roentgen (R) in terms of the biological effect. The Rem (Roentgen Equivalent Man) is a unit that measures the biological effects of ionizing radiation on human tissue. The Roentgen is a measure of exposure to ionizing radiation, typically referring to gamma rays, x-rays, and beta particles. Essentially, both the Rem and Roentgen are used to quantify aspects of radiation exposure and its potential biological impact. A Rem specifically takes into consideration the type of radiation and its effect on biological tissues, while the Roentgen quantifies the amount of radiation exposure. The other choices represent different concepts: the Rad is a measure of absorbed radiation dose (1 Rad = 0.01 Gray), the Gray is another unit of absorbed dose (1 Gy = 100 Rad), and the Sievert (Sv) is a unit that accounts for the biological effect of the radiation absorbed (where 1 Sv = 100 Rem). Thus, while each option relates to radiation and its effects, the specific equivalency of 1 Rem in biological terms aligns with the Roentgen.