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Chest X-rayRead the Chest X-ray article » What is a chest X-ray?A chest X-ray is a radiology test that involves exposing the chest briefly to radiation to produce an image of the chest and the internal organs of the chest. An X-ray film is positioned against the body opposite the camera, which sends out a very small dose of a radiation beam. As the radiation penetrates the body, it is absorbed in varying amounts by different body tissues depending on the tissue's composition of air, water, blood, bone, or muscle. Bones, for example, absorb much of the X-ray radiation while lung tissue (which is filled with mostly air) absorbs very little, allowing most of the X-ray beam to pass through the lung.
What is a shadow on a chest X-ray?Due to the differences in their composition (and, therefore, varying degrees of penetration of the X-ray beam), the lungs, heart, aorta, and bones of the chest each can be distinctly visualized on the chest X-ray. The X-ray film records these differences to produce an image of body tissue structures and these are shadows seen on the X-ray. The white shadows on chest X-ray represent more dense or solid tissues, such as bone or heart, and the darker shadows on the chest X-ray represent air filled tissues, such as lungs. How is the chest X-ray procedure performed?Patients obtaining a chest X-ray will often be requested to use an X-ray gown, and extra metallic objects such as jewelry are removed from the chest and/or neck areas. These objects can block X-ray penetration, making the result less accurate. Patients may be asked to take a deep breath and hold it during the chest X-ray in order to inflate the lungs to their maximum, which increases the visibility of different tissues within the chest. The chest X-ray procedure often involves a view from the back to the front of the body as well as a view from the side. The view from the side is called a lateral ... Recommended Reading Related to Chest X-rayWhat is microsporidiosis? What causes the disease?Microsporidiosis is a disease caused by infection with microscopic organisms called microsporidia. Microsporidia are eukaryotic parasites that must live within other host cells in which they can produce infective spores. These spores cause microsporidiosis, a disease which is primarily seen in individuals infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Microsporidiosis can cause infection of the intestine, lung, kidney, brain, sinuses, muscles, and eyes. Although there are over 1,200 species of microsporidia, the most prevalent pathogens (disease-causing agents) in humans include Enterocytozoon bieneusi, Encephalitozoon cuniculi, and Encephalitozoon intestinalis. How are microsporidia transmitted?Microsporidia spores are released from the stool and urine of infected animals. A number of animals, including insects, birds, and mammals, can serve a... Other Related Chest X-ray ArticlesEmergency Contact for Allen
Nearby Allen Hospitals * Presbyterian Hospital of Allen  Medical Center of McKinney  Centennial Medical Center  HEALTHSOUTH Plano Rehabilitation Hospital  Medical Center of Plano  Medical Center of McKinney Wysong Campus  LifeCare Hospitals of Plano  Plano Specialty Hospital  Baylor Regional Medical Center at Plano  Methodist Richardson Regional Medical Center  Baylor Medical Center at Frisco  Presbyterian Hospital of Plano  Regency Hospital of North Dallas  Baylor Medical Center at Garland  Baylor Specialty Hospital Garland  Trinity Medical Center  Green Oaks Hospital  Kindred Hospital Dallas  Medical City Children's Hospital  Medical City Hospital  Lake Pointe Medical Center  Kindred Hospital Walnut Hill  Presbyterian Hospital of Dallas  RHD Memorial Medical Center  Doctors Hospital at White Rock Lake  Kindred Hospital White Rock  Medical Center of Lewisville  Irving Coppell Surgical Hospital  Children's Medical Center of Dallas  Timberlawn Mental Health System  Texas Specialty Hospital at Dallas  Las Colinas Medical Center  Mary Shiels Hospital  LifeCare Specialty Hospital of Dallas  UT Southwestern Medical Center University Hospital St Paul  UT Southwestern Medical Center  Parkland Health & Hospital System  Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children  UT Southwestern Medical Center University Hospital Zale Lipshy  Baylor Specialty Hospital  Baylor Institute for Rehabilitation  Baylor University Medical Center  Baylor Jack & Jane Hamilton Heart & Vascular Hospital  Dallas Regional Medical Center  Baylor Medical Center at Irving  Denton Regional Medical Center  Methodist Dallas Medical Center  Baylor Regional Medical Center at Grapevine  Renaissance Hospital Dallas  Dallas VA Medical Center  Presbyterian Hospital of Denton  Baylor Medical Center at Trophy Club  Presbyterian Hospital of Greenville  Harris Methodist HEB Hospital  Harris Methodist Springwood  Methodist Rehabilitation Hospital  Methodist Charlton Medical Center  Renaissance Hospital Terrell  Select Specialty Hospital South Dallas  Glen Oaks Hospital  Hickory Trail Hopsital  Terrell State Hospital  Southwest Surgical Hospital Featured Articles*Provider Directory Terms of Use: The WebMD 'Provider Directory' is provided by WebMD for use by the general public as a quick reference of information about Providers. The Provider Directory is not intended as a tool for verifying the credentials, qualifications, or abilities of any Provider contained therein. Inclusion in the Provider Directory does not imply recommendation or endorsement nor does omission in the Provider Directory imply WebMD disapproval. |
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