Where is the image-intended body part placed in most MRI coils?

Where is the image-intended body part placed in most MRI coils?

• A. On top of the body part
• B. Beside the coil
• C. Under the patient table
• D. In the coil's open center

Answer: (D)

Placing the image-target body part in the coil's open center takes advantage of how MRI coils receive signal. These coils act as antennas, and their sensitivity is greatest where the anatomy sits closest to the coil elements, which is the center of the coil. When the body part is in the open center, the signal-to-noise ratio is higher and the reception is more uniform, yielding clearer images with fewer artifacts. If the body part were placed on top of, beside, or far from the coil, the tissue would be farther from some coil elements, reducing sensitivity and degrading image quality.

Placing the image-target body part in the coil's open center takes advantage of how MRI coils receive signal. These coils act as antennas, and their sensitivity is greatest where the anatomy sits closest to the coil elements, which is the center of the coil. When the body part is in the open center, the signal-to-noise ratio is higher and the reception is more uniform, yielding clearer images with fewer artifacts. If the body part were placed on top of, beside, or far from the coil, the tissue would be farther from some coil elements, reducing sensitivity and degrading image quality.