How does magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) work? What benefits does it present to society and to taking an X-ray?

 

An MRI involves using a MRI machine to get images of parts of the body such as soft tissues or the brain to see if there’s a disease or injury and where it is and how bad. MRIs induces a magnetic field on water in the body, causing the hydrogen protons to line up and spin in the same direction (ie: facing north in alignment with the field). When the magnetic field is released, the protons flip back and an image is produced. Since there are different amounts of water throughout the body, doctors can detect the thickness of certain tissues.

Because an MRI is used to see inside the body (in tissues, muscles excreta) it is used to diagnose a disease, like cancer, and to monitor the treatment. MRIs are important as they allow health care staff to identify exactly where the problem is in the body. For example they can identify where damage to the brain has occurred after a concussion which helps determine what part of the brain may be impaired. Unlike X-rays, MRIs don’t produce radiation, which means people can take multiple MRIs without risking DNA mutations, and later resultant cancer. MRIs also produce better images of fat, muscle and soft tissue than CT scans as these areas contain more water and make it easier to differentiate between them. 

Bibliography:

Center for Devices and Radiological Health. “Benefits and Risks.” U.S. Food and Drug Administration, FDA, www.fda.gov/radiation-emitting-products/mri-magnetic-resonance-imaging/benefits-and-risks#:~:text=An%20MRI%20scanner%20can%20be,usually%20better%20at%20imaging%20bones)