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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 The Woodlands
Nearby The Woodlands Hospitals * Memorial Hermann The Woodlands Hospital  Nexus Specialty Hospital Woodlands Campus  St Luke's Community Medical Center The Woodlands  Nexus Specialty Hospital Shenandoah Campus  HEALTHSOUTH North Houston Rehabilitation Hospital  Conroe Regional Medical Center  Select Specialty Hospital Conroe  HEALTHSOUTH Hospital of Houston  Triumph Hospital Northwest  Cypress Creek Hospital  IntraCare North Hospital  TOPS Surgical Specialty Hospital  Houston Northwest Medical Center  Tomball Regional Medical Center  Triumph Hospital Tomball  Methodist Willowbrook Hospital  Memorial Hermann Northeast  HEALTHSOUTH Humble Rehabilitation Hospital  Kingwood Medical Center  Cypress Fairbanks Medical Center Hospital  Kindred Hospital Northwest  North Cypress Medical Center  Triumph Hospital North Houston  Doctors Hospital Parkway  Renaissance Hospital Houston  Doctors Hospital of Tidwell  Memorial Hermann Northwest Hospital  Select Specialty Hospital Houston Heights  Spring Branch Medical Center  Lyndon B Johnson General Hospital  Cleveland Regional Medical Center  Select Specialty Hospital Houston West  Twelve Oaks Medical Center River Oaks Campus  Triumph Hospital Town & Country  Memorial Hermann Memorial City Hospital  Dubuis Hospital of Houston  Triumph Hospital Houston Central  St Joseph Medical Center  Riverside General Hospital  HEALTHSOUTH Hospital for Specialized Surgery  Healthbridge Children's Hospital of Houston  Park Plaza Hospital and Medical Center  Plaza Specialty Hospital  West Houston Medical Center  CHRISTUS St Catherine Hospital  Memorial Hermann Hospital  Kindred Hospital Houston  Select Specialty Hospital Houston Medical Center  Ben Taub General Hospital  The Methodist Hospital  Cornerstone Hospital of Houston at Bellaire  Texas Children's Hospital  University of Texas Harris County Psychiatric Center  West Oaks Hospital  Memorial Herman The Institute for Rehabilitation & Research  Shriners Hospitals for Children  St Luke's Episcopal Hospital  Harris Quentin Mease Community Hospital  Michael E DeBakey VA Medical Center  University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center  Texas Orthopedic Hospital  Memorial Hermann Katy Hospital  Riveroaks Medical Center Sharpstown Campus  University General Hospital  The Woman's Hospital of Texas  IntraCare Medical Center Hospital  Memorial Hermann Southwest Hospital  Triumph Hospital East Houston  East Houston Regional Medical Center  Harris County Hospital District  Texas Specialty Hospital  Kindred Hospital Bay Area 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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