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X-Rays

X-rays are a type of radiation called electromagnetic waves. X-ray imaging creates pictures of the inside of your body. The images show the parts of your body in different shades of black and white. This is because different tissues absorb different amounts of radiation. Calcium in bones absorbs x-rays the most, so bones look white. Fat and other soft tissues absorb less and look gray. Air absorbs the least, so lungs look black.

The most familiar use of x-rays is checking for fractures (broken bones), but x-rays are also used in other ways. For example, chest x-rays can spot pneumonia. Mammograms use x-rays to look for breast cancer.

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Results 1 - 10 of 2,759 for "X-ray"
  1. X-Rays (National Library of Medicine)  
    X-rays are a type of radiation called electromagnetic waves. X-ray imaging creates pictures of the inside of your ... different amounts of radiation. Calcium in bones absorbs x-rays the most, so bones look white. Fat and ...
  2. A skull x-ray is a picture of the bones surrounding the brain, including the facial bones, the nose, and the sinuses. ... You lie on the x-ray table or sit in a chair. Your head may be placed in different positions.
  3. A thoracic spine x-ray is an x-ray of the 12 chest (thoracic) bones (vertebrae) of the spine. The vertebrae are separated by flat pads of cartilage called disks that provide ...
  4. A neck x-ray is an imaging test to look at the cervical vertebrae. These are the 7 bones of the spine ... in your health care provider's office by an x-ray technologist. You will lie on the x-ray ...
  5. A lumbosacral spine x-ray is a picture of the small bones (vertebrae) in the lower part of the spine. This area includes the ... The test is done in a hospital x-ray department or your health care ... x-ray technician. You will be asked to lie on the x-ray table ...
  6. A chest x-ray is an x-ray of the chest, lungs, heart, large arteries, ribs, and diaphragm. ... You stand in front of the x-ray machine. You will be told to hold your breath when the x-ray is taken. Two images are usually taken. You will ...
  7. An abdominal x-ray is an imaging test to look at organs and structures in the abdomen. Organs include the liver, spleen, ... it is called a KUB (kidneys, ureters, bladder) x-ray.
  8. Dental x-rays are a type of image of the teeth and mouth. X-rays are a form of high energy electromagnetic radiation. The x-rays penetrate the body to form an image on ...
  9. This test is an x-ray of a knee, shoulder, hip, wrist, ankle, or other joint. ... or in the health care provider's office. The x-ray technologist will help you position the joint to ...
  10. This test is an x-ray of one or both hands. ... A hand x-ray is taken in a hospital radiology department or your health care provider's office by an x-ray technician. ...
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