X-rays are a form of electromagnetic radiation that is used in medical imaging to visualize the inside of the body. These images reveal different body tissues in varying shades of black and white because different tissues absorb different amounts of radiation. For instance, bones, rich in calcium, absorb x-rays the most and appear white on the images, while softer tissues like fat absorb less and appear gray. Air absorbs the least radiation, resulting in black areas on the images, such as in the case of the lungs.
While the most common use of x-rays is to identify and assess broken bones, they serve numerous other diagnostic purposes. For example, chest x-rays are employed to detect conditions like pneumonia, and mammograms utilize x-rays to screen for breast cancer.
During an x-ray procedure, you may be provided with a lead apron to shield specific parts of your body from unnecessary radiation exposure. It's important to note that the radiation dose received during an x-ray is typically minimal. To put it into perspective, the radiation dose from a chest x-ray is akin to the natural radiation exposure an individual encounters from their environment over a span of 10 days.
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