Welcome back to my learning corner.
If you read my first lesson, you should now have a better understanding of what Radiography is and what radiographers do.
Today, I want us to take the next step and talk about something that is closely connected to Radiography and that most of us have probably heard of before: X-rays.
So, what exactly is an X-ray?
An X-ray is a type of imaging that uses a form of electromagnetic radiation to create pictures of structures inside the body.
You may have seen someone go to a hospital after an accident and hear the doctor say, “We need to do an X-ray.”
But have you ever wondered what actually happens when an X-ray is taken?
The basic idea is quite interesting.
X-rays can pass through the body, but different tissues absorb different amounts of the X-ray energy. Because of these differences, the imaging system can create an image showing structures inside the body.
For example, bones absorb more X-rays than many of the surrounding soft tissues. This is why bones can appear clearly on an X-ray image.
This is also why X-rays are commonly used when doctors need to investigate things such as suspected fractures or certain conditions affecting the chest.
What happens during an X-ray examination?
An X-ray examination usually begins with preparing the patient for the procedure.
The radiographer explains what needs to be done and positions the patient correctly for the particular examination.
Positioning is very important. The body part being examined needs to be placed appropriately so that the resulting image can provide useful information.
The radiographer then operates the X-ray equipment and produces the image.
The process itself can be very quick, but there is more to it than simply pressing a button.
A radiographer needs to understand anatomy, positioning, the imaging equipment, radiation protection, and how to produce an image of suitable quality.
Why is radiation protection important?
This is one of the important things I want people to understand about Radiography.
X-rays involve ionising radiation, so radiation safety is taken seriously.
Radiographers are trained to use radiation responsibly and to keep unnecessary exposure as low as reasonably achievable while still obtaining the required diagnostic information.
This is one reason why you may sometimes see a radiographer step behind a protective barrier or leave the room when the exposure is made.
It doesn't mean that an X-ray examination is something to be afraid of. It means that radiation is being used carefully and professionally.
Is an X-ray the same thing as a photograph?
Not exactly.
Both produce images, but they work in completely different ways.
A normal camera records visible light reflected from objects around us.
An X-ray imaging system uses X-rays to create an image based on how different parts of the body attenuate the radiation passing through them.
So when you see an X-ray image, you're not simply looking at a photograph of someone's bones. You're looking at an image produced through a medical imaging process.
And that is one of the things that makes Radiography so interesting to me.
There is science behind what we see on the screen.
There is also a human side to it because every image belongs to a patient who needs proper care and attention.
This is only the beginning of our discussion about X-rays.
In the next lessons, I will explain more about how an X-ray image is actually produced, why different body tissues appear differently on the image, and some of the common types of X-ray examinations.
After that, we'll move into other areas of medical imaging such as CT, MRI and ultrasound and look at how they differ from one another.
So, welcome back to my learning corner.
This is Lesson 2 of my Radiography series, and I hope you learned something new today.
If there is something about Radiography or medical imaging that you've always wondered about, leave it in the comments. It might become the topic of our next lesson.
Written by Azubuike Joelyn chioma
