Medical Resonance Imaging MRI
First medical images: X-rays Discovered in 1895 Images of bones What part of the body is this?
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) See soft tissues such as muscles, blood vessels, ligaments and internal organs. Images show the brain and other structures inside a human head.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging MRI scanners capture sections through the body. Sections are used to make three- dimensional images. Click on video of scan to play and pause.
How does MRI work? Bar Magnet Strength = Tesla MRI scanner strength = 3 Tesla It’s all about strong magnets. How many bar magnets would you need for an MRI scanner?
How Strong is the Magnet? 3 Tesla does not sound much but it’s very strong.
Seeing with magnetism An MRI scanner uses magnetism to ‘see’ the position of hydrogen atoms in water molecules inside the body. This allows it to build up an image of the internal structures. water molecule hydrogen atom electron proton
MRI images Human head. High resolution, with a 3 tesla magnetic field.
MRI images Blood vessels in the brain blood vessels
Science or art? MRI showing nerve connections inside the brain.