(MRI) Magnetic resonance imaging is a noninvasive medical imaging technique that uses the interaction between radio frequency pulses, a strong magnetic field and body tissue to obtain images of slices/planes from inside the body. These magnets generate fields from approx. 2000 times up to 30000 times stronger than that of the Earth. The use of nuclear magnetic resonance principles produces extremely detailed pictures of the body tissue without the need for x-ray exposure and gives diagnostic information of various organs.
Measured are mobile hydrogen nuclei (protons are the hydrogen atoms of water, the 'H' in H20), the majority of elements in the body. Only a small part of them contribute to the measured signal, caused by their different alignment in the magnetic field. Protons are capable of absorbing energy if exposed to short radio wave pulses (electromagnetic energy) at their resonance frequency. After the absorption of this energy, the nuclei release this energy so that they return to their initial state of equilibrium.
This transmission of energy by the nuclei as they return to their initial state is what is observed as the MRI signal. The subtle differing characteristic of that signal from different tissues combined with complex mathematical formulas analyzed on modern computers is what enables MRI imaging to distinguish between various organs. Any imaging plane, or slice, can be projected, and then stored or printed.
The measured signal intensity depends jointly on the spin density and the relaxation times (T1 time and T2 time), with their relative importance depending on the particular imaging technique and choice of interpulse times. Any motion such as blood flow, respiration, etc. also affects the image brightness.
Magnetic resonance imaging is particularly sensitive in assessing anatomical structures, organs and soft tissues for the detection and diagnosis of a broad range of pathological conditions. MRI pictures can provide contrast between benign and pathological tissues and may be used to stage cancers as well as to evaluate the response to treatment of malignancies. The need for biopsy or exploratory surgery can be eliminated in some cases, and can result in earlier diagnosis of many diseases.

See also MRI History and Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI).

(MRT) An alternative name of Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI).

List of alternative names:

(NMR) Nuclear Magnetic Resonance is a physical phenomenon of the magnetic property of nuclei, which have a positive nuclear spin quantum number.
Under the influence of an external static magnetic field this nuclei will precess about the direction of the magnetic field with an angular frequency (Larmor frequency). Through absorption and emission of RF energy (gradients, RF coils) at the resonance frequency (Larmor equation) and the processing of this raw data by the Fourier transformation - physical, chemical, electronic, and structural information about molecules can be obtained (NMR Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy, Magnetic Resonance Imaging).

Edward Purcell and Felix Bloch discovered the basic of spectroscopy in 1946 (see MRI History). Nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR Spectroscopy or MRS) is an analytical tool, based on nuclei that have a spin (nuclei with an odd number of neutrons and/or protons) like 1H, 13C, 17O, 19F, 31P etc.
Through nuclear magnetic principles as precession, chemical shift, spin spin coupling etc., the analysis of the content, purity, and molecular structure of a sample is possible. The spectrum produced by this process contains a number of peaks; the highs and the positions of these peaks allow the exact analysis. Unknown compounds can be matched against spectral libraries. Even very complex organic compounds as enzymes and proteins can be determined. For the wide uses of NMR spectroscopy (from mineralogy to medicine) there is a variety of different techniques available.
See Spectroscopic Imaging Techniques.

For the wide uses of NMR spectroscopy (from mineralogy to medicine) there is a variety of different spectroscopic imaging techniques available.
A short listing of the most frequent variations: