See Also: gamma-glutamate (glutamate gamma-) carboxypeptidase(medicine)
Dells Area Health Center Avera Health(health)
Hegg Memorial Health Center Avera Health(health)
Divine Providence Health Center Avera Health(health)
Gamma(money)
Gamma ray(health)
gamma ray(medicine)
gamma ray(encyclopedia)
Gamma(finance)
gamma(dictionary)

Gamma ray (health)


High-energy electromagnetic radiation emitted by certain radionuclides when their nuclei transition from a higher to a lower energy state. Gamma rays have high energy and a short wave length. All gamma rays emitted from a given isotope have the same energy, a characteristic that enables scientists to identify which gamma emitters are present in a sample. Gamma rays penetrate tissue farther than do beta particles or alpha particles, but leave a lower concentration of ions in their path to potentially cause cell damage. Gamma rays are similar to x-rays.