Biol 1015 Human Physiology,Technology and Medical Devices

Introduction to Medical Imaging

Names: Pazao Vang, Cher Moua, Sunshine Yang, & Michelle Thao

In this activity you will use a collection of resources to learn how to interpret Anatomical/
Medical Images. Given a medical image you should be able to do the following:
● Identify the Modality – x-Ray, MRI, CT,
● Identify the Plane – Sagittal, Axial/Transverse, Coronal
● Identify the Origin of the Image – Where in the body is it from?
● Apply anatomical terms to the image: Superior - Inferior, Medial - Lateral, etc.
● Identify Structures Visible in the Image

As a student of human anatomy and physiology you should also be able to describe what you see
using proper anatomical vocabulary. It may be valuable to you to review this material in your
text and use the Medical Terminology Worksheet.

As a consumer of medical care you should understand the different types of imaging
technologies in terms of the usefulness, advantages and disadvantages, risks, and expense of
each. Given this background knowledge you can have an educated conversation with your
doctor about which imaging technology would best serve your needs and budget. Note that you
will not be tested on this at this time, but will be the next time you are in the doctor’s office and
she or he orders an image on some part of your anatomy.

There are presentations provided in the Google Drive – Medical Imaging Folder. Work through
all of them to guide your study of Medical Imaging. Of course your text has some material on
this subject and the internet has many useful sites.

1. Identify at least 10 things you can see

in this image. Be as specific and
accurate in your names as you are able.

➢ Spinal Cord
➢ X-Ray
➢ Pacemaker
○ Wires connected
➢ Heart
➢ Rib cages
➢ Collar Bone
➢ Lung
➢ Scapula (a part of the shoulder)
➢ White shadow (right in the
middle)
○ What is it?
2. Complete the table of identifying characteristics for each type of image.

x-ray MRI CT
Gas Black Black Black
Fat Black White Black
Water Gray
Mineral
Dark gray Black White
(bone)

3. Identify 3 distinguishing characteristics of each type of image.

X-Ray – 2D, Bone is white, Mineral is black

 MRI – 3D, Fat is white, Bone is black
CT – 3D, Fat is black, Bone is white

4. Describe the meaning of the phrase ‘Fat

Black CaT’. In which type of image is fat
black?

-It means that the fat color of a CT scan

will be black

- Within a CT Scan, fat is shown in

the color black, whereas, within a
MRI Scan, fat is shown in the color
white.

5. Identify each image as x-

ray, CT, or MRI

1. X- Ray

2. MRI

3. CT
6. What type of image do you see? Hand (X-Ray)

7. What type of image do you see? Head/Skull (CT)

8. What type of image do you see? Brain (MRI)

9. What type of image do you see? Teeth/Jaw (CT)

10. What type of image do you see? Chest (X-Ray)

Types of Medical Imaging
● Radiology = X-rays
● Computerized Tomogrophy = CT
○ Uses many X-rays to construct detailed slices of the body.
● Magnetic Resonance Imaging = MRI or MR
● Ultrasound / Sonography
● Positron Emission Tomography = PET

Image Characterisitics
● X-Ray
○ Typically Sagittal (Side) or Coronal (Front) View
○ Typically have a three dimensional appearance.
● Computerized Tomogrophy = CT
○ ALWAYS a plane / section. Tomo = Slice
○ Can be Sagittal (Side), Coronal (Front), or Axial / Transverse View
● Magnetic Resonance Imaging = MRI or MR
○ ALWAYS a plane / section. Tomo = Slice
○ Can be Sagittal (Side), Coronal (Front), or Axial / Transverse View
1. Important things to remember about images.
a. Images are (Circle One) 2-D 3-D
b. x-ray images are typically _sagittal (side)__ or __Coronal_(front)_ view.
c. CT and MRI images are ALWAYS a Plane.
- Tomo means __Slice__.
- Coronal view is from the Front.
- Sagittal view is from the Side.
- Axial/Transverse view is from the torso looking up/down.

2. Use the image provided to answer these questions.

a. What is the modality of this image?
List at least two pieces of evidence to support your answer.
MRI because the bone is black and fat is white.

b. What is the plane / section of this image?

Sagittal plane

c. Determine the location of this image. A B C D

List at least two pieces of evidence to support your answer.
3. Use the image provided to answer these questions.
a. What is the modality of this image?
List at least two pieces of evidence to support your answer.
-MRI; fat is white and gas is black

b. What is the plane / section of this image?

-Axial/transeverse

c. Determine the location of this image. A B C D

List at least two pieces of evidence to support your answer.

4. Use the
image
provided to
answer
these
questions.
a.
What is the
modality of
this image?

List
at least two
pieces of
evidence to support your answer.
MRI: fat is white

b. What is the plane / section of this image?

Coronal

c. Determine the location of this image. A B C

List at least two pieces of evidence to support your answer.
5. Use the image provided to answer these questions.
a. What is the modality of this image?
X-Ray
b. What is the plane / section of this image?
-Posterior
6. Use the image provided to answer these questions.
a. What is the modality of this image?
X-Ray
b. What is the plane / section of this image?
Sagittal

7. Use the image provided to answer these

questions.
a. What is the modality of this image?
CT
b. What is the plane / section of this image?
Transverse

8. Use the image provided to answer these questions.

a. What is the modality of this image?
MRI
b. What is the plane / section of this image?
Sagittal

9. Use the image provided to answer these questions.

a. What is the modality of this image? -MRI

b. What is the plane / section of this image?

 Transverse
10. Create a drawing to predict what a CT scan of an axial / transverse section of the
thoracic cavity would look like.

Using Medical Images to Practice Using Directional Terms

Use the Medical Terminology: Directional Terms presentation as a study resource for this task.

1. Label Superior (above) and Inferior (towards the leg) on this image.

2. Label Anterior (towards the head) and Posterior

on this image.
-Superior (above)
3. Use arrows and labels to indicate
Medial and Lateral on this image.

4. Use arrows and labels to indicate Proximal and

Distal on this image.

5. Use arrows and labels to indicate

Superficial and Deep on this image.
6. Use directional terms to describe the location/ relationship between two structures.
7. Create a scenario where a doctor is using the directional terms in a clinical situation.