Nayra Guzman-Santillan
INTRODUCTION TO X RAYS Despite this, it still continues to be a great scientific breakthrough. BENEFITS
This poster will describe how it is produced as well as advantages and
The X rays represent a significant advance for medicine (FDA,
Since the beginning of human kind, humans have disadvantages of x rays. 2018). It is a highly valuable resource because it can detect
continuously evolved. This can be appreciated in the field of According to the NIBIB (2017), x rays can be described as “…a form problems such as broken bones, bone loss, calcifications, arthritis,
blockage in blood vessels, cardiovascular problems, dental issues
todays medicine. An example are the x rays. The x rays were of electromagnetic radiation”. Using a considerable high amount of and cancer, where it also can be used to eradicate cancer cells.
discovered around 1895 by German physicist Wilhem energy, x rays can pass though a hefty amount of objects, including Devices based on X-rays are cheaper and quicker than other
scanning devices
Rontgen (Image 1) (Waters, 2011). Nowadays, x rays are the human body. Because of such characteristics, x rays in medicine
Image 1. Wilhem R,
used in a variety of treatments compared to when it was are used for diagnosis, for instance when exposing growing tumors, RISKS
discoverer of X-rays. first discovered. bone fractures, etc.
Health issues such as tumors or cancer have a straight
relationship with high dose range in ionizing radiation.
It can produce ions , which causes malfunction in healthy
cells (The Guardian, 1991).
Damage to unborn children, such
as malformations, delay in develo-
There are three elements A current makes the filament
pment or death .
required for creating x-rays extremely hot. Electrons are • Bigger chance of
dissociated from the metal developing cancer when exposed
e e and form an electron cloud. to children and the elderly
ee e e (Valentin, 2003).
a) Electrons b) A method of CONCLUSION
accelerating
electrons
In conclusion, x-rays are ionizing radiation formed by sudden
2 Thermionic
deceleration from high speed electrons, who also release heat. They
e emission
3 KVP
e 1 are a huge success in medicine, helping identify dangerous diseases
c) A method of
e as cancer or other tumors. Even though it has helped revolutionize
modern medicine, it is still a form of radiation which is dangerous
rapidly decelerating
e and can cause serious harm, so a moderate use is recommended
e REFERENCE LIST
4
1 • National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (NIBIB), 2017. X-
rays. [pdf] Available at: <www.nibib.nih.gov/sites/
Electrons are produced in the cathode default/files/Xray%20Fact%20Sheet%202017.pdf> [Accessed 10 October
filament, by thermionic emission. 2018]
• Waters, 2011. The First X-ray, 1895. [online] Available at: <www.the-
scientist.com/foundations/the-first-x-ray-1895-42279> [Accessed 10 October
2018]
• The Guardian, 1991. The pros and cons of an all-seeing light-x rays are an
invaluable medical tool which allows us to discover what the eye cannot see.
2 3 4 But the energy they emit can be dangerous. Academic One File. [e-article] p.6
Kill voltage potential (KVP) accelerates Available at:
the free electrons, giving them high <http://go.galegroup.com/ps/retrieve.do?tabID=T004&resultListType=RESUL
kinetic energy. T_LIST&searchResultsType=SingleTab&searchType=AdvancedSearchForm
¤tPosition=1&docId=GALE%7CA171222816&docType=Article&sort=R
ELEVANCE&contentSegment=&prodId=AONE&contentSet=GALE%7CA171
222816&searchId=R1&userGroupName=anglia_itw&inPS=true> [Accessed
17 October 2018]
• Valentin, J., 2003. Biological effects after prenatal irradiation (embryo and
