X-Rays

Definition

X-rays are a type of electromagnetic radiation with high energy and frequency, but lower than gamma rays. They can pass through many materials, including body tissue, making them useful for medical imaging.

Related terms

Radiography: The use of X-rays to view a non-uniformly composed material such as the human body.

Computed Tomography (CT): A medical imaging technique that uses computer-processed combinations of multiple X-ray measurements taken from different angles to produce cross-sectional images of specific areas of a scanned object.

Fluoroscopy: A type of medical imaging that shows a continuous X-ray image on a monitor, much like an X-ray movie.