medical uses of radioactivity.

Question 1

nuclear radiation can be used as a medical tracer. they are used to look at internal organs. how do they work?

Answer 1

a radioactive isotope is ingested or injected into the body .
as it travels around the body it can be detected on the outside.

Question 2

a use of a medical tracer is to check kidney function. how would you use it here?

Answer 2

an isotope will pass through a kidneys if its used.
if it builds up in one kidney and not the other this could indicate that one of the kidneys isn’t working efficiently.

Question 3

a use of a medical tracer can also be to look for damage or blockages in the intestines. how does this work?

Answer 3

if the intestines are damaged then radioactivity cannot be detected after the blockage.
if the intestines are damaged the radioactive source can be seen to pass out of the intestines into other areas of the body.

Question 4

what can nuclear radiation also be used to treat?

Answer 4

tumours.

Question 5

how does nuclear radiation work on tumours?

Answer 5

a tumour in the thyroid gland could be treated with radioactive iodine which gathers in the glands and destroys nearby cells.
a focussed beam of gamma rays can be used to destroy some tumours.