Medical Imaging / Radiology

Question 1

What effects the strength of the X-rays?

Answer 1

Density of the tissues through which they pass

Question 2

What tissues on X-ray appear:
1. White
2. Dark

Answer 2

1. Dense tissues appear white (e.g. Bone) as they absorb more x-rays
2. Less dense tissues appear dark (e.g. skin, fat, lungs) as they absorb less x-rays

Question 3

1. What does radio-opaque material (contrast-enhancing medium) do for X-Rays?
2. When is it used?

Answer 3

1. Absorb x-rays and make structures appear white
2. Detailed investigation of structures other than bone (e.g. angiography for blood vessels or barium swallow for gut)

Question 4

What view are axial scans?

Answer 4

Looking upwards from the patients feet whilst in the supine position

Question 5

What can MRI show details of? Give 2 examples

Answer 5

Similar to CT scan and is good for showing detail of soft tissue such as the brain.

Iodine can be used to investigate thyroid function and xenon gas for lung function

Question 6

What is ultrasound used for?

Answer 6

To demonstrate function of organs such as blood flow through vessels