X-ray machines
X-ray Machines
X-ray machines (pronunciation: eks-ray muh-sheens) are a type of medical imaging equipment used to visualize the internal structures of the body.
Etymology
The term "X-ray" is derived from the use of X-radiation, so named because its discoverer, Wilhelm Conrad Roentgen, did not know what type of radiation to classify it as, hence the use of 'X' to denote the unknown. The term "machine" comes from the Latin word "machina", which refers to any sort of mechanical structure or device.
Function
X-ray machines work by emitting a controlled amount of X-radiation, which passes through the body and is captured on the other side by a detector. The X-rays are absorbed by different tissues in the body to varying degrees. Dense tissues such as bone absorb more X-rays and appear white on the resulting image, while less dense tissues appear darker.
Types of X-ray Machines
There are several types of X-ray machines, including:
- Computed Tomography (CT) machines, which use X-rays to produce detailed images of sections of the body.
- Fluoroscopy machines, which use X-rays to create real-time moving images of the inside of the body.
- Mammography machines, which are specialized X-ray machines used for examining breast tissue.
Related Terms
See Also
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