A form of high-energy electromagnetic radiation that can pass through the body and is used to create images of internal structures.
X-rays pass through tissues to different degrees. Dense structures such as bone absorb more X-rays and appear relatively white on an X-ray image, while less-dense tissues allow more X-rays to pass through.
X-ray imaging is widely used to evaluate bones, the chest, and other structures. Because X-rays are a form of ionizing radiation, medical use involves exposure to radiation, although the amount used for many routine examinations is relatively small.
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“X-ray” can refer both to the radiation and, in everyday medical language, to the imaging examination or resulting image.
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