Test Overview
A skull
is a series of pictures of the bones of the
skull. Skull X-rays have largely been replaced by
.
X-rays
are a form of radiation, like light or radio waves, that are focused into a
beam, much like a flashlight beam. X-rays can pass through most objects,
including the human body. X-rays make a picture by striking a detector that
either exposes a film or sends the picture to a computer. Dense tissues in the
body, such as bones, block (absorb) many of the X-rays and look white on an
X-ray picture. Less dense tissues, such as muscles and organs, block fewer of
the X-rays (more of the X-rays pass through) and look like shades of gray on an
X-ray. X-rays that pass only through air look black on the picture.
A skull X-ray may help find head injuries, bone
, or abnormal growths or changes in bone
structure or size.