Intro to Imaging Medical Terms

Anterior (Ventral)

Forward or front part of body or forward part of an organ

Posterior (Dorsal)

Back part of the body or organ (top of foot is considered dorsal)

Superior

nearer of the head or situated above

Inferior

nearer to the feet or situated below

Lateral

part away from the median plane of body or away from the middle of another body part to the right or left

Medial

parts toward median plan of body or towards the middle of another body part

Proximal

parts nearer point of attachment, point of reference, origin, or beginning, toward center of body

Distal

parts farthest from point of attachment, point of reference, origin or beginning; away from the center of body

Supine

lying on the back

Prone

lying face down

Sagittal

divides the entire body or body part into right and left segments

Coronal

divides the entire body or body part into anterior or posterior segments

Transverse

divides the body or body part into superior and inferior portions (also known as axial or horizontal)

Oblique

a plane that passes through a body part at any angle among the sagittal, coronal, or transverse

Contrast

ability to distinguish between different structures or tissues on an image

Artifact

any error or distortion in the image that does not accurately represent the underlying anatomy or tissue

Lesion

injury or other damaging change to an organ or tissue

Pathology

a disease process

Anomaly

variation from the normal pattern

Protocol

inclusive order of necessary images acquired during an examination

Modality

specific types of technology or technique used to create an image of the body for diagnostic purposes (i.e. CT, MRI, Interventional, Rad Tx, Ultrasound, Mammo)

Patient history

process of talking to the patient to obtain pertinent information for more accurate reason for exam (AIDET)

Diagnosis

process of identifying or determining the nature and cause of a disease, injury, or medical condition

Procedure

specific steps and techniques used to obtain medical images of the body for diagnostic purposes

Report

document that summarizes the findings of a diagnostic imaging examination

Contraindicated

any reason for a patient to not receive an exam or treatment

CPR

Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation

Emphysema

abnormal, permanent enlargement of airspaces distal to the terminal bronchioles

Renal Function Test

BUN, Creatinine, eGFR

Anaphylaxis

severe, potentially life-threatening allergic reactions that can occur rapidly

DNR

Do Not Resuscitate

COPD

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

CHF

Congestive Heart Failure

c

with

s

without

h/o

history of

STAT

Immediately

tid

three times daily

qd

every day

qid

four times a day

sob

short of breath

Peripheral

located away from the center of near the surface

artho-

joint

cardi-

heart

cost-

rib

ile-

ileum

contra-

against

hyper-

above, a greater concentration

hypo-

below, a lesser concentration

-ectomy

surgical removal

-itis

inflammation

Radiographer

skilled imaging professional trained to obtain x-ray images and assist the radiologist in x-ray procedures

Positioning

used in 2 ways in radiography. 1.) overall posture of the patient or general body position. 2.) specific placement of the bod part in relation to the table or Image Receptor (IR)

X-ray tube

evacuated glass bulbs with positive (anode) and negative (cathode) electrodes

kVp

measure of potential difference across the x-ray tube (quality)

mAs

when mA is multiplied by the exposure time. Indicates the amount of radiation in the exposure (quantity)

mA

measure of the current flow rate in the x-ray tube circuit

Grid

devices used to prevent scatter radiation from reaching the IR

Collimator

allows the radiographer to vary the size of the radiation field and to indicate with a light beam the size, location, and center of the field

Bucky

located beneath the table surface; it is a moving grid that incorporates a tray to hold an IR

Radiolucent

transparent to x-rays

Radiopaque

block radiation from reaching the IR

Exposure index

determines the underexposure or overexposure of an image (also known as s-number, digital index number (DI)

Fluoroscopy

x-ray machine designed for direct viewing of the x-ray image

Digital Radiography (DR)

has radiation receptors within the table, bucky, or stand-alone DR receptors that transmit digital signals directly to the computer system

Scatter radiation

Patient is the principal source of occupational exposure to radiographers. Ionizing radiation that occurs as a result of their interaction between the primary beam and matter.

Source to Image Detector (SID)

distance between the x-ray type target and the image receptor. Measured along the central ray

Object to Image Detector (OID)

distance between the object and the image receptor

Image receptor

device that captures a radiographic image

Contrast media

Gas or radiopaque substance that is injected into the body

Anode

electrode at which oxidation occurs; electrically positive, target end of the x-ray tube

Cathode

negative electrode; the negative side of the x-ray tube. Contains the focusing cup and filament

Automatic Exposure Control (AEC)

automatic exposure control - ionization chamber located between the patient and the image receptor

Lead apron

coverings worn by radiographers who are in a radiographic or fluoroscopic room with the x-ray beam turned on. Worn for radiation protection when performing portable radiography. Absorbs most of the scatter radiation that strikes the apron

Dosimeter

monitoring device worn by radiographer that measures the amount of radiation received

In-Profile

an outline or silhouette view of an anatomic structure that has a distinctive shape

Central ray

imaginary photon in the center of the x-ray beam that is directed toward the center of the object being radiographed

Echogenic

structure that procedures echoes

Hyperechoic

brighter than surrounding tissue

Hypoechoic

darker than surrounding tissue

Isoechoic

have the same echogenicity

Homogeneous

uniform composition

Heterogeneous

differing composition

Doppler

recognized the frequency shift resulting from moving objects

Transducer

instrument used to obtain an image of the human body using ultrasound. Converts one form of energy to another

Sonographer

skilled medical professional trained to utilize ultrasound to image the human body

Scan

The act of performing a sonography examination

Ultrasound

sound range above the normal hearing range of humans

Gain

amplification of the electrical signal

Depth

varies by the depth of the echoes that are displayed on the monitor (depth range)

Frequency

number of cycles per unit of time

Time-gain compensation

control that alters the brightness of an image at a specific depth

A-mode

amplitude mode - ultrasound display in which the depth of the returning echo was represented on the x-axis, while the strength (amplitude) of the reflector was represented along the y-axis

B-mode

brightness mode - ultrasound display in which a dot with varying degrees of brightness is used on the screen. The stronger the returning echo, the brighter the dot (grayscale)

M-mode

motion mode - demonstrates the motion of structures along a single scan line

Color Doppler

doppler shift information presented as a color or hue superimposed over a grayscale image

Power Doppler

amplitude mode of doppler when it is not the shift itself that prevents signal but rather the strength (amplitude) of the shift

Spectral Doppler

type of ultrasound technique that graphically displays blood flow velocities over time

Suprapubic

anatomical region located above the pubic bone

Insonation

process of exposing tissue or an object to ultrasound waves