MRI Basic Principles Flashcards

(29 cards)

1
Q

An atom is made up of:

P… (… charge)

N… (… charge)

E… (… charge)

A

An atom is made up of:

PROTONS (POSITIVE charge)

NEUTRONS (NO charge)

ELECTRONS (NEGATIVE charge)

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2
Q

Within the nucleus of the atom, … and … spin in opposite directions

In atoms with the same number of … and …, the nucleus itself has … net spin

However if there is an … amount of … and …, the nucleus itself will have a net …

A

Within the nucleus of the atom, PROTONS and NEUTRONS spin in opposite directions

In atoms with the same number of PROTONS and NEUTRONS, the nucleus itself has NO net spin

However if there is an UNEQUAL amount of PROTONS and NEUTRONS, the nucleus itself will have a net SPIN

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3
Q

Atoms with an … mass number are said to be MRI a… n…

They have a tendency to align their axis of … to an applied … field

A

Atoms with an ODD mass number are said to be MRI ACTIVE NUCLEI

They have a tendency to align their axis of ROTATION to an applied MAGNETIC field

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4
Q

Hydrogen atoms have a mass number of …, and contain a … charge proton

This gives a … magnetic moment

It’s used in medical imaging as it is … in the body

A

Hydrogen atoms have a mass number of -1, and contain a POSITIVELY charge proton

This gives a LARGE magnetic moment

It’s used in medical imaging as it is ABUNDANT in the body

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5
Q

Without a … field, the … moments are random

When placed in a strong … field, the … moments … with this field

Some align … (low energy nuclei) and some …-… (high energy nuclei)

The … nuclei create a net … vector (…)

A

Without a MAGNETIC field, the MAGNETIC moments are random

When placed in a strong MAGNETIC field, the MAGNETIC moments ALIGN with this field

Some align PARALLEL (low energy nuclei) and some ANTI-PARALLEL (high energy nuclei)

The PARALLEL nuclei create a net MAGNETIC vector (NMV)

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6
Q

Each hydrogen nucleus (…) is spinning on its …

The magnetic field strength (…) causes an … spin- called …

The … at which they spin is called the … frequency

A

Each hydrogen nucleus (PROTON) is spinning on its AXIS

The magnetic field strength (Bo) causes an ADDITIONAL spin- called PRECESSION

The SPEED at which they spin is called the PRECESSION frequency

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7
Q

R… occurs when an object is exposed to an external … that has a … close to its own

The nucleus gains … and resonates

For the resonance of hydrogen atoms to occur at 1.5T, a frequency of … MHz must be applied

The application of the … pulse that causes resonance to occur is called …

The application of this … pulse results in the … to move out of alignment with Bo

The flip angle is the angle between … and the …

It affects image contrast, signal … and … timing

Another result of resonance is the … moments of the … nuclei move in … with each other

A

RESONANCE occurs when an object is exposed to an external FORCE that has a FREQUENCY close to its own

The nucleus gains ENERGY and resonates

For the resonance of hydrogen atoms to occur at 1.5T, a frequency of 63.86 MHz must be applied

The application of the RADIOFREQUENCY pulse that causes resonance to occur is called EXCITATION

The application of this RADIOFREQUENCY pulse results in the NMV to move out of alignment with Bo

The flip angle is the angle between Bo and the NMV

It affects image contrast, signal STRENGTH and SCAN timing

Another result of resonance is the MAGNETIC moments of the HYDROGEN nuclei move in PHASE with each other

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8
Q

The MRI signal is produced when the in … magnetism occurs across the … coil

This is due to the moving … magnetisation producing magnetic field … inside the coil which induces an electric … in the coil

A

The MRI signal is produced when the in PHASE magnetism occurs across the RECEIVER coil

This is due to the moving TRANSVERSE magnetisation producing magnetic field FLUCTUATIONS inside the coil which induces an electric VOLTAGE in the coil

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9
Q
A
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10
Q

When the MRI signal in the receiver coil is switched off, the … energy nuclei … energy

This results in the … realigning with …- relaxation

A

When the MRI signal in the receiver coil is switched off, the HIGH energy nuclei LOSE energy

This results in the NMV realigning with Bo- relaxation

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11
Q

What is T1 recovery?

A

When the amount of magnetisation in the longitudinal plane increases

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12
Q

What is T2 decay?

A

When the amount of magnetisation in the transverse plane decreases

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13
Q

Free Induction Decay (FID):

As relaxation occurs, the … of transverse magnetisation …

The nuclei also begin to move … of phase with each other- dephase

All of these result in the … of signal in the receiver coil

A

Free Induction Decay (FID):

As relaxation occurs, the MAGNITUDE of transverse magnetisation DECREASES

The nuclei also begin to move OUT of phase with each other- dephase

All of these result in the LOSS of signal in the receiver coil

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14
Q

Image contrast:
Different tissues in the body have different … times

These are dependent on:
The inherent energy of the tissue; tissue with … inherent energy can … absorb energy from hydrogen nuclei during … and vice versa

How closely packed the modules are; in tissues where the molecules are closely packed, there’s more … interaction between the … fields of … hydrogen nuclei. And vice versa

A

mage contrast:
Different tissues in the body have different RELAXATION times

These are dependent on:
The inherent energy of the tissue; tissue with LOW inherent energy can EASILY absorb energy from hydrogen nuclei during RELAXATION and vice versa

How closely packed the modules are; in tissues where the molecules are closely packed, there’s more EFFICIENT interaction between the MAGNETIC fields of NEIGHBOURING hydrogen nuclei. And vice versa

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15
Q

Example of longitudinal magnetisation:

Fat are … molecules that are … packed together

They have a … inherent energy (can easily give it up)

Therefore, fat molecules regain longitudinal magnetisation fairly …

Water molecules are spaced …

They have a … inherent energy (take longer to give it up)

Therefore, water molecules regain longitudinal magnetisation fairly …

A

Example of longitudinal magnetisation:

Fat are LARGE molecules that are CLOSELY packed together

They have a LOW inherent energy (can easily give it up)

Therefore, fat molecules regain longitudinal magnetisation fairly QUICKLY

Water molecules are spaced APART

They have a HIGH inherent energy (take longer to give it up)

Therefore, water molecules regain longitudinal magnetisation fairly SLOWLY

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16
Q

Example of transversal magnetisation:

Fat molecules are closely … together

Therefore they can easily … up their energy

Transverse magnetisation will be lost …

Water molecules are spaced far … so therefore loss of transverse magnetisation will be …

A

Example of transversal magnetisation:

Fat molecules are closely PACKED together

Therefore they can easily GIVE up their energy

Transverse magnetisation will be lost RAPIDLY

Water molecules are spaced far APART so therefore loss of transverse magnetisation will be SLOW

18
Q

To distinguish contrast on an image, the image needs to be weighted towards one contrast mechanism- either … or …

This is done by selecting the appropriate TR and TE

A

To distinguish contrast on an image, the image needs to be weighted towards one contrast mechanism- either T1 or T2

This is done by selecting the appropriate TR and TE

19
Q

Repetition time (TR):
The time from the application of one … pulse to another

It determines the amount of … relaxation that is allowed to occur

Echo time (TE):
Time from the application of the … pulse to the … of the signal induced in the received coil

It determines the amount of decay in the … plane

A

Repetition time (TR):
The time from the application of one RADIOFREQUENCY pulse to another

It determines the amount of LONGITUDINAL relaxation that is allowed to occur

Echo time (TE):
Time from the application of the RADIOFREQUENCY pulse to the PEAK of the signal induced in the received coil

It determines the amount of decay in the TRANSVERSE plane

20
Q

Image contrast:
The … can be separated into individual … of different tissues

Areas of high signal (… on image) are tissues that have a large component of … magnetism at the time of TE

Tissues with a low signal component of … magnetisation at the time of TE will appear …

A

Image contrast:
The NMV can be separated into individual VECTORS of different tissues

Areas of high signal (WHITE on image) are tissues that have a large component of TRANSVERSE magnetism at the time of TE

Tissues with a low signal component of TRANSVERSE magnetisation at the time of TE will appear DARK

21
Q

T1 weighted:

An image where the contrast depends predominantly on the differences in the T1 … times between tissues

The TR controls how far each … recovers before the next slice is excited by the next radiofrequency pulse

A

T1 weighted:

An image where the contrast depends predominantly on the differences in the T1 RELAXATION times between tissues

The TR controls how far each VECTOR recovers before the next slice is excited by the next radiofrequency pulse

22
Q

T1 weighted image:

… time (TR) is crucial for T1 contrast

TR controls how far each vector can recover before it is excited by the next … pulse

For T1 weighting, the TR must be … enough so that neither fat nor water have … time to fully return to Bo

If the TR is too long, then both fat and water will fully recover to the … magnetisation

In that case, the difference in T1 contrast can’t be demonstrated in the image

(Short TR = strong T1 weighting
Long TR = low T1 weighting)

A

T1 weighted image:

REPETITION time (TR) is crucial for T1 contrast

TR controls how far each vector can recover before it is excited by the next RADIOFREQUENCY pulse

For T1 weighting, the TR must be SHORT enough so that neither fat nor water have SUFFICIENT time to fully return to Bo

If the TR is too long, then both fat and water will fully recover to the LONGITUDINAL magnetisation

In that case, the difference in T1 contrast can’t be demonstrated in the image

(Short TR = strong T1 weighting
Long TR = low T1 weighting)

23
Q

T2 weighted:

An image where the contrast depends predominantly on the differences in the T2 … times between tissues

The TE controls the amount of T2 decay that occurs before the signal is received

A

T2 weighted:

An image where the contrast depends predominantly on the differences in the T2 DECAY times between tissues

The TE controls the amount of T2 decay that occurs before the signal is received

24
Q

T2 weighted image:

… times between tissues (TE) is crucial for T2 weighting

If a short echo time (25ms) is used, the signal differences between tissues are …

T2 relaxation has only just started and there has only been … signal decay at the time of echo collection

The resulting image has … T2 weighting

A

T2 weighted image:

ECHO times between tissues (TE) is crucial for T2 weighting

If a short echo time (25ms) is used, the signal differences between tissues are SMALL

T2 relaxation has only just started and there has only been LITTLE signal decay at the time of echo collection

The resulting image has LOW T2 weighting

25
T2 weighted image: If a long echo time is used (100ms), the signal differences between tissues will be … The resulting image has … T2 weighting (Short TE = low T2 weighting Long TE = strong T2 weighting)
T2 weighted image: If a long echo time is used (100ms), the signal differences between tissues will be LARGE The resulting image has HIGH T2 weighting (Short TE = low T2 weighting Long TE = strong T2 weighting)
26
27
Proton density (PD) signal refers to the amount of … generated based on the number of … protons (mostly in water and fat). It’s one of the 3 main types of MRI contrast, alongside … and … To highlight proton density, MRI sequences are designed to … T1 and T2 effects: Long TR (reduces … weighting) Short TE (reduces … weighting) This way, the image contrast mainly reflects differences in … concentration, not relaxation times
Proton density (PD) signal refers to the amount of SIGNAL generated based on the number of HYDROGEN protons (mostly in water and fat). It’s one of the 3 main types of MRI contrast, alongside T1 and T2 To highlight proton density, MRI sequences are designed to MINIMISE T1 and T2 effects: Long TR (reduces T1 weighting) Short TE (reduces T2 weighting) This way, the image contrast mainly reflects differences in PROTON concentration, not relaxation times
28
T1 weighted image: … TR + … TE … - … T2 weighted image: … TR + … TE … - … Proton Density (PD): … TR + … TE … - …
T1 weighted image: SHORT TR + SHORT TE SHORT - SHORT T2 weighted image: LONG TR + LONG TE LONG - LONG Proton Density (PD): LONG TR + SHORT TE LONG - SHORT
29
The 2 main sequences in MRI sequencing is …: … gradient Spin …
The 2 main sequences in MRI sequencing is …: ECHO gradient Spin ECHO