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Medicine vocabulary · Diagnosis and Tests

X-ray

Meaning in medicine, with examples

/ˈeks reɪ/nounCore term

In medicine, X-ray means: An image of the inside of the body made with a type of radiation that passes through soft tissue but is blocked by bone and other dense structures.

In Turkish: röntgen, direkt grafi, grafi

How it is used

Doctors request an X-ray and the radiographer takes it. Common types are the chest X-ray (CXR) and X-rays of injured limbs. The word is also a verb: 'We'll X-ray your wrist.'

Example sentences

  1. The chest X-ray shows consolidation in the right lower lobe.

  2. We'll X-ray your ankle to make sure nothing is broken.

Common collocations

  • chest X-ray
  • order an X-ray
  • X-ray findings
  • take an X-ray
  • CT scanA scan that uses X-rays taken from many angles and a computer to build detailed cross-section pictures of the body. CT stands for computed tomography.
  • fractureA break or crack in a bone, caused by an injury or by bone that has become weak.
  • investigationA test or examination, such as a blood test or a scan, done to find the cause of a patient's problem or to check their condition.
  • ultrasoundA scan that uses high-frequency sound waves to make live pictures of organs, blood vessels or a baby in the womb, without using radiation.
  • MRIShort for magnetic resonance imaging: a scan that uses a strong magnet and radio waves to make detailed pictures, especially of the brain, spine, joints and soft tissues.

This word in other fields

The same English word can have a different meaning in another field:

More terms: Diagnosis and Tests

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This page explains English vocabulary for learners. It is not medical advice.