X-ray

X-rays are a form of electromagnetic radiation (like light); they are of higher energy than visible light, however, and can penetrate the body to produce an image. Structures that are dense (such as bone) will appear white, air will be black, and other structures will be shades of gray depending on density.

Review Date: 07/04/2011
Reviewed By: Harvey Simon, MD, Editor-in-Chief, Associate Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School; Physician, Massachusetts General Hospital.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org).

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