Protective aprons in fluoroscopy are designed primarily to protect which body region?

• A. Head and neck
• B. Trunk organs
• C. Limbs
• D. Facial bones

Answer: (B)

The main purpose of protective aprons is to shield the trunk of the body—the chest and abdomen—where vital, radiosensitive organs (like the heart, lungs, liver, stomach, intestines, and reproductive organs) reside. In fluoroscopy, scatter radiation tends to reach these central tissues, so the apron is designed to block those photons and reduce whole-body dose to those organs. Protection for the head and neck is addressed with other gear such as a thyroid collar and sometimes leaded headgear, while hands are protected with lead gloves when they may be near the beam. Limbs aren’t the primary focus of the apron since shielding the trunk covers the most critical region for protecting essential organs.