3 imperatives to transform health care in America. You're invited to watch it live

Free

E-newsletter

Subscribe to Housecall

Our weekly general interest
e-newsletter keeps you up to date on a wide variety of health topics.

Sign up now

Definition

By Mayo Clinic staff

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a technique that uses a magnetic field and radio waves to create detailed images of the organs and tissues within your body.

Most MRI machines are large, tube-shaped magnets. When you lie inside an MRI machine, the magnetic field temporarily aligns the water molecules in your body. Radio waves cause these aligned particles to produce very faint signals, which are used to create cross-sectional MRI images — like slices in a loaf of bread.

The MRI machine can also be used to produce 3-D images that may be viewed from many different angles.

Why it's done
References
  1. Neurological diagnostic tests and procedures. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/misc/diagnostic_tests.htm. Accessed Sept. 2, 2010.
  2. Patient safety: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). American College of Radiology, Radiological Society of North America. http://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/safety/index.cfm?pg=sfty_mr. Accessed Sept. 2, 2010.
  3. MRI of the head. American College of Radiology, Radiological Society of North America. http://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info.cfm?pg=headmr. Accessed Sept. 2, 2010.
  4. Functional MR imaging (fMRI) — Brain. American College of Radiology, Radiological Society of North America. http://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info.cfm?pg=fmribrain. Accessed Sept. 2, 2010.
  5. Cardiac MRI. American College of Radiology, Radiological Society of North America. http://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info.cfm?pg=cardiacmr. Accessed Sept. 2, 2010.
  6. MR angiography (MRA). American College of Radiology, Radiological Society of North America. http://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info.cfm?pg=angiomr. Accessed Sept. 2, 2010.
  7. MRI of the body (chest, abdomen, pelvis). American College of Radiology, Radiological Society of North America. http://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info.cfm?pg=bodymr. Accessed Sept. 2, 2010.
  8. MRI of the musculoskeletal system. American College of Radiology, Radiological Society of North America. http://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info.cfm?pg=muscmr. Accessed Sept. 2, 2010.
  9. MRI of the breast. American College of Radiology, Radiological Society of North America. http://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info.cfm?pg=breastmr. Accessed Sept. 2, 2010.
  10. Barbara Woodward Lips Patient Education Center. Breast-feeding after receiving contrast dye. Rochester, Minn.: Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research; 2011.
MY00227 Aug. 9, 2012

© 1998-2013 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research (MFMER). All rights reserved. A single copy of these materials may be reprinted for noncommercial personal use only. "Mayo," "Mayo Clinic," "MayoClinic.com," "EmbodyHealth," "Enhance your life," and the triple-shield Mayo Clinic logo are trademarks of Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research.

  • Reprints
  • Print

  • Share on:

  • Email

Advertisement


Text Size: smaller largerlarger