BME Final Study Guide – Biomedical Engineering Comprehensive Exam Review, Key Concepts
& Practice Questions with Answers
Why are multiple imaging modalities used in medicine? - ✔✔Each reveals different tissue
types, has different costs, risks, and accessibility.
What is a key limitation of X-ray imaging? - ✔✔It cannot show soft tissues well because
contrast depends on radiographic density.
What determines ultrasound image contrast? - ✔✔Differences in sound wave reflections at
tissue boundaries.
Why does MRI use hydrogen atoms? - ✔✔Hydrogen has a strong magnetic moment and is
abundant in the body.
What does fMRI detect? - ✔✔Brain activity via blood oxygenation changes (BOLD response).
What creates the gamma rays detected in PET scans? - ✔✔Positron-electron annihilation
events.
What is PET used for? - ✔✔Mapping metabolic activity using injected radioactive tracers.
What does flow cytometry measure? - ✔✔Light scattering and fluorescence of individual cells.
What does forward scatter (FSC) indicate? - ✔✔Cell size.
What does side scatter (SSC) indicate? - ✔✔Internal complexity/granularity.
& Practice Questions with Answers
Why are multiple imaging modalities used in medicine? - ✔✔Each reveals different tissue
types, has different costs, risks, and accessibility.
What is a key limitation of X-ray imaging? - ✔✔It cannot show soft tissues well because
contrast depends on radiographic density.
What determines ultrasound image contrast? - ✔✔Differences in sound wave reflections at
tissue boundaries.
Why does MRI use hydrogen atoms? - ✔✔Hydrogen has a strong magnetic moment and is
abundant in the body.
What does fMRI detect? - ✔✔Brain activity via blood oxygenation changes (BOLD response).
What creates the gamma rays detected in PET scans? - ✔✔Positron-electron annihilation
events.
What is PET used for? - ✔✔Mapping metabolic activity using injected radioactive tracers.
What does flow cytometry measure? - ✔✔Light scattering and fluorescence of individual cells.
What does forward scatter (FSC) indicate? - ✔✔Cell size.
What does side scatter (SSC) indicate? - ✔✔Internal complexity/granularity.
