How Imaging Technology Works

[bmcgilligan]

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As medical students and future doctors, how in-depth will our knowledge need to be concerning the physics of how x-rays, CT scans, MRIs, etc work? Just wondering

 

[DrPharaohX]

I'm not sure about the physics but as long as we're still able to accurately pinpoint normal physiology from abnormal pathology on the images, we'll be fine.

I would say a rudimentary understanding is still good to have, however, so we can tell the patients which way the X-ray is going through them, "this won't hurt because..." etc.

 

[Larsitron]

I don't think you're going to have to be sitting around calculating wavelengths or anything, but the physics/mechanics behind each rests on a pretty simple set of principles. I wouldn't worry about it too much.