How should the technologist modify the default technique for the lateral projection of the thoracic spine to blur the ribs and increase spine visibility while maintaining receptor exposure?

To modify the default technique for the lateral projection of the thoracic spine in order to blur the ribs and enhance the visibility of the spine while maintaining adequate receptor exposure, increasing the exposure time while decreasing the mA is the appropriate action.

This approach works because a longer exposure time allows for more motion blur of the ribs, which are typically in the same plane as the spine. The longer exposure ensures that any involuntary movement (like breathing) blurs stationary structures, such as the ribs, while the spine, which is not moving as much compared to the ribs, will remain sharper on the image.

By decreasing the mA, which directly affects the amount of photons produced, the overall radiation dose to the patient is reduced. Although the overall mA is reduced, the increased exposure time compensates for this decrease, ensuring that the receptor still receives adequate exposure for a diagnostic image while achieving the desired outcome of blurring the ribs.

Therefore, adjusting these two parameters appropriately allows for better visualization of the spine in the lateral projection while controlling the exposure to the receptor effectively.