Magnetic resonance imaging

Abstract

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) evolved in the early 1970s and has undergone tremendous growth over the last two decades, primarily as a diagnostic tool. The 2003 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine was awarded to two scientists responsible for the development of nuclear magnetic resonance as an imaging technique. The versatility of the technique has led to increasing interest from the basic science community in recent years. This chapter is a condensed summary of the book that was recently published (1). It provides the reader with a concise outline of the fundamental concepts behind MRI and an introduction to a few biological applications. Interested readers can find more detailed information and other relevant bibliography in the book (1). © 2008 Humana Press.