How does an MRI machine create detailed images of the body?
Quick Answer
MRI uses strong magnetic fields and radio waves to measure signals from hydrogen atoms in the body. A computer turns those signals into detailed cross-sectional images without ionizing radiation.
The Full Story
MRI stands for magnetic resonance imaging. The scanner aligns hydrogen protons in the body using a powerful magnet, often 1.5 or 3 tesla in hospital machines. Radio pulses disturb that alignment, and as the protons relax back, they emit signals that are detected and converted into images. Different tissues respond differently, so MRI can show soft tissue, the brain, joints, and organs in great detail. The first clinical MRI scan was performed in the early 1970s, and the technology revolutionized medical imaging.
Key Facts
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