|
|
HISTORY OF X-RAYS
Röntgen x ray, x ray astronomy,x ray fluoroscope
X-Rays are rays produced by an electric current passing through an X-Ray
tube. These rays are electromagnetic waves with wave length smaller than
the light waves. They produce a beam of ionizing radiation that can pass
through the body which needs to be examined. After passing through the body
the rays fall on a film or digital screen in which they form an image of
the body called a radiograph. X-Ray is used to know about the body.
The soft part of the body allow the rays to pass through them easily so
in the film the soft part of the body produces a dark color in the film
as the rays penetrate through them easily and more radiation passes through
the film The hard part of the body like the bone does not allow the rays
to pass easily since they absorb most of the radiation so less amount of
radiation falls on the film where the bones are present in the body. Hence
the parts where the bones appear in the body appear to be white on the X-Ray
film.
Roentgen rays as the X-Rays are called are used for various diagnostic purposes.
A chest x ray is performed to look if the patient is suffering from pneumonia,
tumors, or fluid or to evaluate the size of the heart. Chest X-Rays are
taken before major surgery as part of the screening.
X-Rays of the stomach are taken in case of acute stomach pain to rule out
the presence of foreign body or a hole in the digestive tract.
A myelogram is an X-rays of the spine in which contrast medium is injected
into the spinal fluid to form an outline of the spinal cord. It is used
to check the back pain patients to rule out if they have any disc problems.
An arthrogram is an x ray of the inside of a joint usually hip or knee.
In this also a contract medium is injected into the joint to get a clear
image. It is used to detect a tear in the cartilage or other joint abnormalities.
The contrast medium used is iodine, or barium depending upon where it is
injected. Iodine is used for the vein or artery and barium is used to get
outline internal structures.
A fluoroscope is a device that has a fluorescent screen and used to produce
moving images of the body, while the doctor is examining the patient. It
is used to find out the the functional aspect of the gastrointestinal tract,
the respiratory system and the bladder.
Mammography uses special x-ray equipment to detect breast cancer. Dental
X Rays are taken to detect any defect in the teeth like tooth decay or damage
inside the root canals.
|
