Abstract
The most important property of X-rays, without which they could not be put to diagnostic use, is their ability to penetrate matter to a greater or lesser extent. It is due to this penetrating power of X-rays that we are able to use them to gain a visual impression of the internal constitution of the human body, in as much as the parts of the body differ in the amount of radiation they absorb. The laws which govern the attenuation of X-rays in matter have already been discussed. Differences in degree of attenuation are thus obviously to be expected in the human body, owing to differences in the density and atomic composition of the various tissues as well as in the thickness of the layers which have to be passed through.
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Copyright information
© 1969 Macmillan Publishers Limited
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
van der Plaats, G.J. (1969). Methods of Image Formation and Laws of Projection. In: Medical X-ray Technique. Palgrave, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-349-00061-6_5
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-349-00061-6_5
Publisher Name: Palgrave, London
Print ISBN: 978-1-349-00063-0
Online ISBN: 978-1-349-00061-6
eBook Packages: EngineeringEngineering (R0)