MRI, or Magnetic Resonance Imaging, is a technique used in the medical field to image the inner structures of your body, much like an x-ray or a CT (Computed Tomography) Scan. So what sets MRI apart from these other techniques?
A lot of what makes an MRI different from other imaging techniques is the way that it works. An x-ray essentially takes photographs in two-dimensions of your body, and a CT Scan can take pictures of the bone and soft tissue using radiation in a similar fashion to x-rays. MRI’s on the other hand, do not use radiation to take pictures of your body. This minimizes radiation exposure, which is ideal for young patients, people who need multiple images, or when a detailed view of the soft tissues (ligaments, muscles, and cartilage, for example) is required.
How Does It Work?
The way MRI’s work is by utilizing the water in your body. Our bodies are made up of about 75% water, which is chemically known as H2O. By placing a human body into a large magnet, we are able to align the abundant hydrogen atoms into a single direction. We can the use a radio frequency to excite these hydrogen atoms, and measure the amount of excitation and the time required for them to relax. Different tissue types in the body will have different times required for excitation/relaxation, which is the basis of MRI imaging.
The signals given off by the hydrogen atoms in the body are then converted to an image, which helps your doctor understand what is happening to the tissues in your body. This technique is especially useful in imaging things like ligaments and tendons, which can be difficult to evaluate on an x-ray image.
For further explanation, you may want to watch this video at YouTube.
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