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When you start searching for the definition of x-ray, you are bound to find out that X-rays are also known as "roentgen rays" in Europe after the discoverer of x-rays, W. Roentgen. Other... |
When you start searching for the definition of x-ray, you are bound to find out that X-rays are also known as “roentgen rays” in Europe after the discoverer of x-rays, W. Roentgen. Other alternative names for x-ray are radiography, x-ray films, plain films. An x-ray is a type of radiation that is used for imaging as well as therapy with the help of short wavelength energy beams that has the capacity to penetrate into most of the substances except some heavy metals. It is an electromagnetic radiation of short wavelengths that are produced when the high speed electrons strike against a solid target.
Medical x-rays are produced by allowing a stream of rapid electrons stop suddenly against a metal plate. It is believed that the x-rays emitted by the sun and stars come from rapid electrons. The electromagnetic feature of the x-ray became apparent after the discovery that crystals bend their way in the similar path as the gratings bent the visible light. The positioned row of the atoms in a crystal acts as the grooves of grating.
The diagnostic x-rays are the very powerful tools that are available for medical imaging. It is through the x-rays the physician can have an insight to some of the internal body conditions with few or no invading procedures. General definition of x-ray depicts it as a type of ray that is useful in medical imaging for diagnosing certain diseases like the breast cancer.
The definition of x-ray can be expressed as a form of electromagnetic radiation similar to that of visible light. X-rays are the rays like the light rays that travel in a straight line. They can get through your body very deep in most of the materials and can travel through almost all the tissues of the body. Only soma hard structures and the bones of your body can block the x-rays.
The images that are produced by an x-ray are a result of the different absorption rates of the different tissues of the body. The calcium present in the bones absorbs most of the x-rays. This is the reason why bone appears white on the film. While the fat and the other soft tissues of the body absorb very little x-rays and hence they appear grayish in color. Air absorbs the least of the x-rays and therefore the lungs appear black on the x-ray image.