Different body parts show up as different colors on a computerized tomography (CT) scan, also called a computed tomography or CAT scan, because different parts of the body absorb different amounts of x-rays.
The CT scanner works by sending a beam of x-rays through the body and onto electronic "film." Some of the x-rays pass through the body and some are absorbed. Harder parts of the body, like bones, absorb more x-rays and show up white. Where there’s little or nothing to stop the x-rays (like lungs), it shows up as black. Softer parts of the body—like the brain, muscles and skin—absorb less of the x-rays and show up as shades of gray.
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