Imaging is an important part of medical care in the 21st century. Doctors use imaging to diagnose illness and to determine the best course of treatment. There are several different types of imaging including X-rays, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and ultrasound. All these imaging tests are painless, though some require that you stay still for long periods of time and this can be uncomfortable.
X-rays
X-rays are typically used to look for broken bones, cavities in your teeth, lung problems, abdomen problems and abnormal growths in other parts of the body. An x-ray is electromagnetic radiation. This radiation is absorbed by different types of body tissue at different rates. The more radiation the tissue absorbs, the brighter the image appears. For example, the calcium in bones absorbs a large amount of radiation, so bones appear white on an x-ray. While the amount of radiation you absorb during an x-ray is small, you will still be asked to wear a lead vest over your reproductive organs.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
MRI machines use radio and magnetic waves to take pictures of organs and soft tissue in the body. MRI images are used to diagnose injured ligaments and cartilage. They are also useful for finding abnormalities in the spinal cord and brain. It is important to hold very still during an MRI scan. These scans do not hurt, but they can be very loud and some people get claustrophobic. The doctor will ask you to remove any metal objects from your body before the scan, because metal can disrupt the magnetic waves emitted by the machine.
Ultrasound
Ultrasound scans use sound waves to take images of tissues in the body. Ultrasounds are used to view blood vessels, the heart, liver, lungs and other organs in the body. Ultrasound is the most commonly used imaging tool to examine the fetuses of pregnant women. The sound waves emitted by the ultrasound machine bounce off tissues, creating a picture, similar to the way bats see with echolocation.
Tags: amount radiation, different types, magnetic waves, sound waves, waves emitted, waves take
