tag:healthwise.org,2023-07-26:/knowledgecontent/tu6485?lang=en-us&hw.key=AQ55EKQLPRYOCSV5OMTZ2HMVXXEXUXADYM2HDWKCEPCSRKYM3LYM6ILZR4YYGER5ZNHI4XCHY3ZDOWY3K4NBBH3V7IMEXE33SKBDQDDQhttps://ixbapi.healthwise.net/resource/media/interface/hwlogo.pnghttps://ixbapi.healthwise.net/resource/media/interface/hwlogo.pngHealthwise, IncorporatedX-ray2023-07-26T12:00:00Z14.02023-07-26tag:healthwise.org,2023-07-26:/knowledgecontent/tu6485?lang=en-us&hw.key=AQ55EKQLPRYOCSV5OMTZ2HMVXXEXUXADYM2HDWKCEPCSRKYM3LYM6ILZR4YYGER5ZNHI4XCHY3ZDOWY3K4NBBH3V7IMEXE33SKBDQDDQ© 1995-2024 Healthwise, Incorporated. Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated.X-ray

X-ray

X-rays are a form of radiation, like light or radio waves, that can be focused into a beam, much like a flashlight beam. Unlike a beam of light, though, X-rays can pass through most objects, including the human body.

When X-rays strike a piece of photographic film, they can produce a picture. Dense tissues in the body, such as bones, block (absorb) many of the X-rays and appear white on an X-ray picture. Less dense tissues, such as muscles and organs, block fewer of the X-rays (more of the X-rays pass through) and appear in shades of gray. X-rays that pass only through air appear black on an X-ray picture.

Many centers are changing from film to using computers for digital pictures.

X-ray