X Ray Scans
X-Ray scans
INTRODUCTION TO MEDICAL TECHNOLOGIES
________________________
Technology has had a major impact on human life and has had a similar effect on human health as well. There have been many advances in medical imaging and medical practices over the years. These technologies include: X-rays, CAT Scans, NMRIs, Mammograms, and many more.
With the introduction of many new types of scans, medical professionals are able to diagnose and treat many diseases including cancer. However, the technologies are fairly recent and long-term effects on human health have not been researched thoroughly.
Do these technologies cause more harm than good? Are we exposing ourselves to potentially dangerous scans intentionally?
Use of X-rays:
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These atoms may absorb the extra energy given by the photon. In order for the energy to be absorbed, the difference in electrons must be the same; there must be positions for extra electrons in the orbitals of the atom.
X-ray photons have a large amount of energy; only large atoms (where there are larger energy differences between orbitals) are able to absorb the energy. It is unlikely for smaller atoms to absorb this much energy. Our body tissues consist mainly of smaller atoms so x-ray photons are not absorbed. The bones in our body, however, consist of calcium atoms (which are much larger) and are able to absorb the energy.
X-ray photons are created by cathodes and anodes within the machinery. The machinery is surrounded by a lead shield which prevents X-ray photons to escape. There is a small window which allows x-ray photons to escape in a very narrow beam. On the other side of the patient, there is a camera which records the pattern of the x-ray beam throughout the patient. The scan (or image) that is produced has light and dark areas. The light areas are bones, which are hard and are exposed to less light, and the dark areas are the softer material, which were exposed to more light during the
INTRODUCTION TO MEDICAL TECHNOLOGIES
________________________
Technology has had a major impact on human life and has had a similar effect on human health as well. There have been many advances in medical imaging and medical practices over the years. These technologies include: X-rays, CAT Scans, NMRIs, Mammograms, and many more.
With the introduction of many new types of scans, medical professionals are able to diagnose and treat many diseases including cancer. However, the technologies are fairly recent and long-term effects on human health have not been researched thoroughly.
Do these technologies cause more harm than good? Are we exposing ourselves to potentially dangerous scans intentionally?
Use of X-rays:
________________________ …show more content…
These atoms may absorb the extra energy given by the photon. In order for the energy to be absorbed, the difference in electrons must be the same; there must be positions for extra electrons in the orbitals of the atom.
X-ray photons have a large amount of energy; only large atoms (where there are larger energy differences between orbitals) are able to absorb the energy. It is unlikely for smaller atoms to absorb this much energy. Our body tissues consist mainly of smaller atoms so x-ray photons are not absorbed. The bones in our body, however, consist of calcium atoms (which are much larger) and are able to absorb the energy.
X-ray photons are created by cathodes and anodes within the machinery. The machinery is surrounded by a lead shield which prevents X-ray photons to escape. There is a small window which allows x-ray photons to escape in a very narrow beam. On the other side of the patient, there is a camera which records the pattern of the x-ray beam throughout the patient. The scan (or image) that is produced has light and dark areas. The light areas are bones, which are hard and are exposed to less light, and the dark areas are the softer material, which were exposed to more light during the