Ch. 20 Vocabulary Quiz

half-life

Time required for a radioactive substance to lose half its radioactivity by disintegration

angiography

blood vessels

cholangiography

blue vessel (ducts)

computed tomography (CT)

diagnostic x-ray procedure whereby a cross-sectional and other images of a specific body segment are produced

upper GI series

esophagus, stomach, and small intestine

gamma rays

high-energy rays emitted by radioactive substances

barium enema

lower gastrointestinal tract

lymphoscintigraphy

lymphatic system

gamma camera

machine to detect gamma rays emitted from radiopharmaceuticals during scanning for diagnostic purposes

magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)

magnetic field and radio waves produce images of the body in three planes (coronal, sagittal, and axial)

contrast studies

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

radiology

medical specialty concerned with the study of x-rays and their use in the diagnosis of disease

nuclear medicine

medical specialty that studies the uses of radioactive substances in diagnosis of disease

radiolucent

permitted the passage of x-rays

in vivo

process, test, or procedure performed, measured, or observed in a living organism

in vitro

process, test, or procedure performed, measured, or observed outside a living organism

radionuclide isotope

radioactive form of an element

PET (positron emission tomography)

radioactive substance is given intravenously and a cross-sectional image is created of cellular metabolism based on local concentration of the radioactive substance

radiolabeled compound

radiopharmaceutical used in nuclear medicine studies

pyelography

renal pelvis of kidney and urinary tract

myelography

spinal cord

radio immunoassay

test that combines radioactive chemicals and antibodies to detect minute quantities of substances in patient's blood

interventional radiology

therapeutic procedures performed by a radiologist

ionization

transformation of electrically neutral substances into electrically charged particles

hysterosalpingography

uterus and fallopian tubes