Radiologic anatomy

the study of the structure and function

of the body using medical imaging
techniques.
branch of medical science dealing
with the use of radiant energy in the
diagnosis and treatment of disease.
Radiograph- also known as X-ray
- the image/film produced from the
procedure
Medical imaging techniques
permit the study of anatomical
structures, their movements in normal
and abnormal activities in living
people. (Ex. Heart)

Computerized tomography (CT)

Ultrasonography (US)
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
Nuclear medicine imaging
I. Conventional radiography
is referred to clinically as plain lm
studies.
radiopaque-dense substance
radiolucent- less dense substance
Fig. #. Radiograph of Chest PA

Most commonly used medical imaging

techniques:

Contrast Media- are radiopaque uids

(such as iodine compounds or barium)
which allows the study of various luminal
or vascular organs and potential or actual
spaces that are not visible in plain lms.
(Ex. Digestive tract)

Conventional radiography
(X-ray images)

Most radiologic examinations are

performed in at least two projections

at right angles to each other.

Fig. #. Radiograph of Stomach, Small

intestine, and Gallbladder
Description of radiographic projections

and positions:

II. Computed Tomography

show radiographic images of the body
that resemble transverse anatomical
sections.
Multiple overlapping radial
energy
absorptions
are
measured,
recorded,
and
compared by a computer to
determine the radiodensity of
each volumetric pixel (voxel)
of the chosen body plane.

Reverse principle to Conventional

Radiography:
White- areas of great absorption (Ex.
bone) are relatively transparent
Black- areas with little absorption
III. Ultrasonography/Ultrasound (US)
technique that visualizes supercial or
deep structures in the body by
recording pulses of ultrasonic waves
reecting off the tissues.
Transducer- a device in contact with the
skin that translates the echoes from the
body and convert it to electrical energy.
Electrical signals are recorded and
displayed on a monitor as a crosssectional image.
Doppler ultrasonography- shifts in
frequency between emitted ultrasonic
waves and their echoes are used to
measure the velocities of moving objects.
Scanning of the pelvic viscera from
the surface of the abdomen requires a
fully distended bladder.

Urine- serves as an acoustical window,

transmitting soundwaves with minimal
attenuation.
Bone reects nearly all ultrasound
waves, whereas air conducts them
poorly.

Fig. #. Ultrasound of Upper Abdomen

IV. Magnetic Resonance
for tissue differentiation
The person is placed in a scanner with a
strong magnetic eld, and the body is
pulsed with radiowaves.
Free protons in the tissues that become
aligned by the surrounding magnetic eld
are excited (ipped) with a radiowave
pulse. As the protons ip back, minute but
measurable energy signals are emitted.
High in proton density tissues-emit
more signals (Ex. Fat,
Water, etc.)
Low in proton density- emit
less
signal
Three properties of protons
(basis of tissue signal):
T1 relaxation (producing T1
weighted images)
T2 relaxation (producing T2
weighted images)
Proton density

Computers associated with MRI

scanners have the capacity to
reconstruct tissues in any plane

from the data acquired: transverse,

median, sagittal, frontal, and even
arbitrary oblique planes.

Fig. #. Median MRI of head

V. Nuclear Medicine Imaging
provide information about the
distribution or concentration of trace
amounts of radioactive substances
introduced into the body through
intravenous injection.
Technetium-99m methylene
diphosphonate (99mTc-MDP)- for bone
scanning
Positron emission tomography (PET)
scan- used to evaluate the physiologic
function of organs. (Areas of increased
brain activity will show selective uptake
of the injected isotope.)
Single-photon
emission
computed
tomography (SPECT) scan- use longer
lasting tracers. They are less costly, but
require more time and have lower
resolution.

Sources: Moore, 7th Edition

WHO Manual of diagnostic imaging,
2002