Medical Terminology Module 15

hysterosalpingography

x-ray imaging of the uterus and fallopian tubes after injection of contrast material

myelography

radiography of the spinal cord and nerve roots

pyelography

x-ray imaging of the renal pelvis and urinary tract

angiography

x-ray imaging of blood vessels after injection of contrast material

contrast studies

Radiopaque materials are injected to obtain contrast with surrounding tissue when shown on x-ray film

radiopaque

substance does not allow x-rays to pass through and appears white or light gray on the resulting film

radiolucent

a substance that allows x-rays to pass through and appears black or dark gray on the resulting film

radiopharmaceutical

drug that contains a radioactive substance which travels to an area or a specific organ that will be scanned

CT scan (computed tomography)

takes x ray photos from different angles

sonogram

an image formed using reflected ultrasound waves

X-ray

A form of energy that travels in waves that can pass through some living tissue, but not through bone.

radiology

study of X rays and radioactive substances and their uses in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases

nuclear medicine

imaging that uses radioactive substances for the diagnosis of disease

in vitro

process, test, or procedure in which something is measured or observed outside the living organism

flouroscopy

technique in which x-rays are directed through the body to a fluorescent screen that displays internal structures in continuous motion

oblique

positioned at an angle from the perpendicular plane

recumbent

reclining; lying down

anteriposterior

X-rays travel from a frontal source to a rear placed detector

interventional radiology

the use of radiographic imaging to guide a procedure such as a biopsy or positioning of catheters

echocardiography

an ultrasonic diagnostic procedure used to evaluate the structures and motion of the heart

scintigraphy

nuclear medicine procedure that visualizes various tissues and organs after administration of a radionuclide

tracer study

image that traces the passage of a radiopharmaceutical through an organ or tissue