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X-rays are a type of electromagnetic radiation used in imaging or therapy that uses short wavelength energy beams which penetrate the body to form an image on film. The x-rays pass through different tissues of the body and onto the film in different amounts. For instance, very few x-rays pass through bones, so they appear white on the film; more pass through muscle, so they appear gray, etc. Metal and contrast media (intravenous or oral contrast) block almost all the photons and will appear bright white. These differences are what create the image on the film. Routine x-rays or plain films are x-rays taken without the use of contrast medium. Many parts of the body such as chest and bones are imaged this way. X-rays can help detect pneumonia, fractures, obstructions, tumors, and other diseases
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