Can you see my insides? :)

We live in the 20^th century that technology to us seems like it has always existed. Many of us cannot live a day without using technology. We rely on it to get ready in the morning, to get to school, to do our homework, to make ourselves food, to keep in contact with our friends and family and the list goes on. As technology keeps evolving, medical technology a

re become more advanced. Technology today allows us to view the internal body systems without actually opening up the body. In this blog entry, I will be talking about how ultrasounds, x-rays, CT scans, and MRI's help contribute to our understanding of internal body system.

Ultrasounds are an ultrasound-based diagnostic medical imaging technique used to visualize muscles, tendons, and many internal organs, to capture their size, structure and any pathological lesions with realtime tomographic images. Ultrasounds are also used during pregnancy but are known as an “obstetric sonography.”

X-rays are a form of electromagnetic radiation that sends individual x-ray particles, called photons. These particles pass through the body and a computer or special film is used to record the images that are created. X-rays can identify bone structures of the skeletal system. Chest x-rays can help identify lung diseases such as pneumonia, lung cancer or pulmonary edema, but the abdominal x-ray can detect intestinal obstruction. X-rays are also commonly used in dentistry when diagnosing common oral problems, such as cavities.

A CT scanning, sometimes called CAT scan, is a noninvasive medical test that helps physicians diagnose and treat medical conditions. CT scans of internal organs, bones, soft tissue, and blood vessels provide greater clarity and reveal more details than regular x-ray exams. A CT scan is a further development of x-rays.

What happens when you want to view detailed pictures of organs, soft tissues, bones, and any other internal body structure? Well, in that case you would use an MRI, Magnetic resonance imaging. An MRI uses powerful magnetic field, radio waves, and a sophisticated computer to generate detailed pictures. An MRI will generate images in great detail. Detailed MRI’s allow physicians to better evaluate various parts of the body and determine the presence of certain diseases that cannot be detected through an ultrasound of CT scan.

Medical technology extends and improves life. It alleviates pain, injury, and diseases. Medical technology helps enhance the quality and effectiveness of care. The most common medical technology used today are ultrasounds, x-rays, CT scans, and MRI’s. Not only medical, but technology in general will keep evolving as time goes by. In the near future, new medical technologies will be made with more accurate pictures and readings to help diagnose diseases and cures to care for patients worldwide.

References;

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ultrasound

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003337.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/X-ray

http://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info.cfm?pg=bodymr

http://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info.cfm?pg=bodyct

Blogs I Commented on:

http://claudia-d-123.blogspot.com/2010/12/first-in-canada-to-use-endoscopic.html?showComment=1302023987483#c3899723432720625898

http://sbi3u1carminachu.blogspot.com/2011/03/importance-of-technology-to-understand.html?showComment=1302025673580#c2793169442283659398