Final answer:
Whole-body radiation dose primarily includes the gonads and blood-forming organs due to their high sensitivity to radiation, as they contain rapidly dividing cells.
Step-by-step explanation:
The body parts included in a whole-body dose of radiation are primarily the gonads and blood-forming organs. These tissues are affected significantly by radiation exposure due to their rapidly dividing cells. The gonads, which include the testis in males and the ovaries in females, are particularly sensitive to radiation, which is why they are a key consideration in whole-body radiation exposure.
Similarly, blood-forming organs, such as bone marrow, contain stem cells that are highly susceptible to radiation damage. In contrast, the extremities are less affected by radiation as they do not contain high concentrations of rapidly dividing cells and thus are not typically included in whole-body dose considerations.