X-Ray Case

Prior to 1895 bone fractures and bone breaks were simply diagnosed by the naked eye. There was no accuracy in the diagnosis. In December 1895 a German scientist by the name of William Rontgen discovered by accident that a cathode ray was able to emit an invisible light which could penetrate no only through ordinary objects such as wood or paper but it could also see through human flesh and take photographs of human bones. The discovery of the x-ray caused physicians and physicists to began studying into more depth the relation of light and rays as well as studying the measurements and statistics behind the x-ray. This initial discovery of the x-ray changed the face of medicine and fueled the jump start into the intricate discoveries within our anatomical world.

An x-ray consist of light waves which are very small. Due to these wavelengths being so small they can easily penetrate low density materials such as, books, paper, wood and flesh but is not absorbed by high density objects such as catheters, pacemakers, steel and bones. Whenever an x-ray produces a picture, the bone is shown as a dark area because the light has been totally absorbed. Since the initial discovery of the x-ray machine in 1895 x-rays have greatly evolved and have proven to be a valuable asset within the medical field. Not only are x-ray machines a powerful tool within the medical field they are also a great help in assuring safe travel throughout the world. X-ray machines are being used worldwide within airports to scan luggage and people. Recently the issue with x-rays in the airports have not produced positive excitement. Many people feel that these new body scans which x-rays an entire body is in invasion of privacy

Since the initial discovery of an x-ray in the 19th century the capability of the basic x-ray has greatly evolved Another x-rays that produce croos-sectional images of the body using computer and x-rays is the the EMI scan. The EMI was developed in the Electric and Musical Industries in England in 1971 by British engineer Sir Godfrey Hounsfield and Dr. Alan Cormack. Another type of x-ray is called an Magnetic Resonance Imagining which is known as an MRI. Years ago the MRI used to be called Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Imagining but the word nuclear was dropped because people were afraid that they were being exposed to a radioactive substance. An MRI is comprised of a very large magnets and radio waves which send signals to your body and then the body sends those signals back in the form of a picture. An MRI is best for looking at soft tissue like, ligaments, tendons, muscles and brain are just a few. Most people with knee and shoulder injuries would be provided the best analysis by using an MRI. There are still many people who are not able to use an MRI machine. Individuals who are claustrophobic, anyone with a pacemaker, ear implants, metal objects in their body, etc.

Another type of x-ray which is not always factored in is the dreaded