Download 1090-Interpreting X Rays Activity Sheet

Interpreting
X-rays
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X-rays are an extremely useful diagnostic tool for doctors, allowing them to see dense structures (like bone)
inside the body.
This task involves the identification of skeletons of humans of several different ages and the diagnosis of a
number of different problems in the skeletal system.
Below are descriptions of the symptoms of five medical problems associated with the skeleton and a
sequence of X-ray plates. Read the descriptions carefully and find the X-ray that you think matches each
one. Write the name of the problem in the space below the X-ray and give your reasons for making that
diagnosis.
There are then full-body X-rays of three human skeletons. Using your knowledge of human growth
patterns, identify which is from an adult, which from a newborn baby and which from a 5-year-old. Again,
give your reasons for each identification.

Achondroplasia – a genetic cause of dwarfism. Characterised by abnormal body proportions –
generally the limbs are short relative to the size of the trunk (caused by a shortening of the long limb
bones), the fingers are short and the head is relatively large, with a prominent forehead.

Arthritis – the most common form of arthritis is osteoarthritis (also known as degenerative joint
disease). In this condition, the cartilage at the end of the bones making up a joint either deteriorates
or ossifies (turns to bone) and there is a loss of synovial fluid from the joint. These result in a loss of
space within the joint, forcing bone into contact with bone. Patients experience a lack of mobility in
the joint, worsening pain as the disease progresses and often swelling in the joint.

Greenstick fracture – a broken bone most commonly seen in children. Greenstick fractures are
usually the result of direct trauma to the bone, and are only "partial" fractures, in which the bone
does not completely break through, but splits on one side, the other side being compressed.

Open fracture – a fracture where the broken ends of the bone have become separated from each
other and there is space between them. (The term can also be used to describe a case where the
fracture is associated with an open wound i.e. where the broken bone has pushed through the
surrounding tissue).

Rickets – a medical condition in children caused by a vitamin D deficiency, which leads to the
softening of the bones. In toddlers this causes bow legs, while older children develop turned-in
knee joints (“knock-knees”). Vitamin D is necessary for the absorption of calcium from the gut.
http://www.humanillnesses.com/original/A
t-Ca/Broken-Bones-and-Fractures.html
1)
http://www.glucosaminearthritis.org/arthritis/DJD-Knee.html
www.answers.com/topic/primidone-1
2)
4)
3)
5)
http://www.mybrokenleg.com/faq/glossary.html
http://www.bonesgrace.blogspot.com/
1)
Diagnosis:
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Reasons:
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2)
Diagnosis:
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Reasons:
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3)
Diagnosis:
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Reasons:
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4)
Diagnosis:
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Reasons:
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5)
Diagnosis:
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Reasons:
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Skeleton of
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Reasons
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Skeleton of
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Reasons
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Skeleton of
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Reasons
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