What is exposure latitude?

• A. The maximum exposure allowed by equipment.
• B. The range of receptor exposures that yield diagnostically acceptable images; limited latitude means more technique sensitivity and retakes risk.
• C. The range of patient doses considered safe.
• D. The difference between exposure time and distance.

Answer: (B)

Exposure latitude is the range of receptor exposures that will produce a diagnostically acceptable image. It shows how forgiving an imaging system is to variations in exposure factors; with broader latitude you can vary technique more and still get a usable image, while limited latitude means small changes in technique can push the image out of acceptance and increase the chance of a retake. This concept matters for maintaining image quality while managing patient dose. It isn’t about a maximum exposure limit, safe patient doses, or the relationship between exposure time and distance.