Nuclear Magnetism and MRI

These flashcards cover the key concepts related to nuclear magnetism and MRI, detailing atomic structure, nuclear properties, and the principles of magnetic resonance.

Atoms

The basic units of matter, composed of protons, neutrons, and electrons.

Atomic Number

The number of protons in the nucleus of an atom; it defines the element.

Mass Number

The sum of protons and neutrons in the nucleus.

Isotopes

Atoms of the same element that have differing mass numbers.

Ions

Atoms that have gained or lost electrons, resulting in a charge.

Ionization

The process of removing electrons from an atom, resulting in the formation of ions.

Magnetic Resonance (MR)

A phenomenon where atomic nuclei resonate when exposed to a magnetic field and electromagnetic radiation.

Active Nuclei

Nuclei with odd mass numbers that exhibit a net spin and act as tiny bar magnets.

Reference Frame

A perspective used to understand the motion and behavior of nuclear magnetic moments.

Quantum Mechanics

The branch of physics that describes subatomic particle behavior, including nuclear spin.

Classical Mechanics

The branch of physics that describes the behavior of larger-scale objects.

Nuclear Spin

A property of atomic nuclei that acts similarly to angular momentum.

Spin Quantum Number (S)

A specific number that indicates the number of possible orientations of a nucleus in a magnetic field.

Magnetic Moment

The magnetic field generated by a spinning, charged particle, such as a nucleus.

Larmor Frequency

The frequency at which magnetic moments of MR active nuclei precess around a magnetic field.

Net Magnetization Vector (NMV)

The vector that represents the net balance between spin-up and spin-down protons in the magnetic field.

Energy Absorption

The process by which protons in a lower-energy state absorb energy to enter a higher energy state.

Precession

The wobbling motion of the nuclear magnetic moments around the axis of an applied magnetic field.

Larmor Equation

The equation that describes the relationship between the precession frequency and the magnetic field.