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Definition
By Mayo Clinic staffAn X-ray is a quick, painless test that produces images of the structures inside your body — particularly your bones.
X-ray beams can pass through your body, but they are absorbed in different amounts depending on the density of the material they pass through. Dense materials, such as bone and metal, show up as white on X-rays. The air in your lungs shows up as black. Fat and muscle appear as varying shades of gray.
For some types of X-ray tests, a contrast medium — such as iodine or barium — is introduced into your body to provide greater detail on the X-ray images.
References
- Introduction: X-ray. In: Mettler FA. Essentials of Radiology. 2nd ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2005. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/165146367-3/903135188/1276/6.html#4-u1.0-B0-7216-0527-3..50004-4--cesec2_7. Accessed Jan. 3, 2012.
- Contrast materials. Radiological Society of North America. http://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/safety/index.cfm?pg=sfty_contrast. Accessed Jan. 12, 2012.
- Radiation exposure in X-ray and CT examinations. Radiological Society of North America. http://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/safety/index.cfm?pg=sfty_xray#. Accessed Jan. 3, 2012.
- Bone X-ray (radiography). Radiological Society of North America. http://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info.cfm?PG=bonerad. Accessed Jan. 3, 2012.
- Chest X-ray (chest radiography). Radiological Society of North America. http://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info.cfm?PG=chestrad. Accessed Jan. 3, 2012.
- Wahl RL. Imaging. In: Abeloff MD, et al. Abeloff's Clinical Oncology. 4th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Churchill Livingstone Elsevier; 2008. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/165146367-5/903277817/1709/26.html#4-u1.0-B978-0-443-06694-8..50025-7--cesec17_487. Accessed Jan. 4, 2012.
- Rust G, et al. Pulmonary medicine. In: Rakel RE. Textbook of Family Medicine. 8th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2011. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/191205553-4/0/1481/0.html#. Accessed Jan. 4, 2012.
- Mammography. Radiological Society of North America. http://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info.cfm?PG=mammo. Accessed Jan. 4, 2012.
- Keeping kids still during exams. American Society of Radiologic Technologists. https://www.asrt.org/content/ThePublic/AboutRadiologicProcedures/KeepingKidsStillDuringExams.aspx. Accessed Jan. 4, 2012.
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