is a medical diagnostic technique that provides
high-quality cross-sectional or three-dimensional images
of body structures and organs.
During imaging, the patient lies inside a magnetic chamber,
which causes the nuclei of hydrogen atoms in the body to line up.
A pulse of radio waves is released, throwing the atoms out of alignment.
As they realigned, the atoms oscillate and resonate.
The resonance is detected and analyzed by a computer to create an image. "
taken directly from the Illustrated Oxford Dictionary, DK Publishing, inc and Oxford University Press, 1998 p. 537. (A substantial investment but excellent reference book. visit their web sites below):
