Which accessory is known to decrease patient radiation dose when used properly?

Gonad shields are designed specifically to protect sensitive reproductive organs from unnecessary exposure to radiation during radiographic procedures. When positioned correctly, these shields effectively reduce the amount of radiation that reaches the patient's gonadal area, thereby minimizing the potential for radiation-induced damage and long-term health effects. This is particularly important in populations such as children, who are more sensitive to radiation.

Although other options like the X-ray tube and grid are important components in radiography, they primarily serve roles in image acquisition and contrast enhancement rather than directly reducing patient radiation exposure in the same targeted manner as gonad shields. The X-ray tube generates the radiation needed for imaging, while a grid improves image quality by reducing scatter radiation. However, neither of these accessories focuses specifically on reducing radiation dose to a particular area of the body, as gonad shields do.