Which term is defined as the external radiation dose delivered to the entire body?

The term that best defines the external radiation dose delivered to the entire body is "deep dose equivalent." This measurement is specifically designed to assess the potential biological effects of radiation exposure on the body as a whole, particularly for areas that are significantly deeper than just the skin.

The deep dose equivalent considers radiation that can penetrate deeply into the body, accounting for doses received by critical organs and tissues. It reflects the total dose of radiation exposure over an extended range of tissue depths, which is important for evaluating health risks associated with external radiation sources.

In contrast, the other terms outlined do not describe whole body exposure in the same comprehensive way. "Skin dose" pertains only to the radiation absorbed by the skin's surface, while "shallow dose equivalent" focuses on doses absorbed at shallow depths, generally reflecting doses received by the skin and very near-surface tissues. "Whole body exposure" is a more general term and does not provide the specific regulatory or dose assessment context that "deep dose equivalent" does in the context of radiation safety and health physics.