The head and spine are two very important areas of the body. After all, the head is where the brain is located, and the brain sends signals to all the other parts of the body so that they can function correctly. The spine is a collection of nerves that enable motor skills. So, if something is wrong with either the head or the spine, it is very important that the person have a diagnostic scan done.
The main diagnostic scan for the head and spine is the MRI scan. This scan, which stands for Magnetic Resonance Imaging, does not use radiation that other scans use. Instead, the MRI scan produces three dimensional images of the body using a magnetic field.
Some people used to be hesitant about getting an MRI scan because it meant them laying inside a claustrophobic scanning machine for up to an hour at a time. However, now the machines are far more open, and the process takes less than an hour. Because of the magnetic field that is used, in order to make sure that the machine works properly it is very important for the patient to avoid wearing anything that has metal in it.
This means things like zippers, certain types of buttons, glasses, and hearing aids are not allowed in the room. People who have a pacemaker will not be allowed to have an MRI scan at all. The patient will need to stay as still as possible during the scan itself so the machine can get the clearest images.
