Science Behind: MRIs

Have you ever gotten an MRI? Well, if you’re unfamiliar with the concept, MRI stands for Magnetic Resonance Imaging. It is a non-invasive procedure that provides a 3D full body scans as a way to detect certain conditions or monitor a patient.

MRIs use magnets, which is why it is forbidden to wear anything metal at the time of an MRI. The magnet is so strong that it reorients the protons of the body, as a radio frequency is blasted out, the protons become excited. The protons, after the radio frequency is gone, emit energy that is detected by the MRI machine. An image is printed with the energy released.

To make things easier to differentiate, patients might be given a contrast agent through the veins that circulate through the blood system. The image printed can then be used to diagnose and treat patients.