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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 Berwyn
Nearby Berwyn Hospitals * MacNeal Hospital  Hartgrove Hospital  Edward Hines Jr VA Hospital  John J Madden Mental Health Center  Riveredge Hospital  Loretto Hospital  Loyola University Medical Center  RUSH Oak Park Hospital  Resurrection Health Care West Suburban Medical Center  Resurrection Health Care Westlake Hospital  Advocate Bethany Hospital  Saint Anthony Hospital  Schwab Rehabilitation Hospital  Gottlieb Memorial Hospital  Sacred Heart Hospital  Shriners Hospital for Children Chicago  Adventist LaGrange Memorial Hospital  Jesse Brown VA Medical Center  Mount Sinai Hospital Medical Center  Norwegian-American Hospital  John H Stroger Jr Hospital of Cook County  University of Illinois Medical Center  Johnston R Bowman Health Center  Kindred Hospital Northlake  Rush University Medical Center  Resurrection Health Care Saint Mary of Nazareth Hospital Center  Resurrection Health Care Saint Elizabeth Hospital  Adventist Hinsdale Hospital  Holy Cross Hospital  Resurrection Health Care Our Lady of Resurrection Medical Center  Kindred Hospital Chicago Central  RML Specialty Hospital  Chicago-Read Mental Health Center  Elmhurst Memorial Hospital  Advocate Christ Medical Center & Hope Children's Hospital  Mercy Hospital & Medical Center  Children's Memorial Hospital  St Bernard Hospital & Health Care Center  Lincoln Park Hospital  Northwestern Memorial Hospital  Prentice Women's Hospital  Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago  Kindred Hospital Chicago North  Provident Hospital of Cook County  Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center  Little Company of Mary Hospital & Health Care Centers  CINN Neurologic & Orthopedic Institute of Chicago  Resurrection Health Care Resurrection Medical Center  Resurrection Health Care Saint Joseph Hospital  University of Chicago Comer Children's Hospital  Swedish Covenant Hospital  University of Chicago Hospital Bernard Mitchell  Thorek Memorial Hospital  Methodist Hospital of Chicago  Weiss Memorial Hospital  Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital  Chicago Lakeshore Hospital  Jackson Park Hospital & Medical Center  Palos Community Hospital  Kindred Hospital Chicago Lakeshore  La Rabida Children's Hospital  South Shore Hospital  Roseland Community Hospital  Resurrection Health Care Saint Francis Hospital  Advocate Lutheran General Hospital  MetroSouth Medical Center  Advocate Trinity Hospital  Adventist GlenOaks Hospital  RUSH North Shore Medical Center  Alexian Brothers Medical Center  Alexian Rehabilitation Hospital  Resurrection Health Care Holy Family Medical Center  NorthShore University HealthSystems  Marianjoy Rehabilitation Hospital  Oak Forest Hospital of Cook County 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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