What technology uses a magnetic field to show pictures of soft tissues?

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is the technology that uses a magnetic field to produce detailed images of soft tissues within the body. MRI works by utilizing strong magnets and radio waves to generate images based on the water content in the tissues. This allows for high-resolution imaging, particularly useful for visualizing soft tissues such as the brain, muscles, and organs, making it an invaluable tool in medical diagnostics.

In contrast, a CT scan primarily uses X-rays to create cross-sectional images of the body, which can be excellent for bone imaging but less effective for soft tissue contrast. Ultrasound employs sound waves to generate images and is commonly used for examining developing fetuses as well as other soft tissues, but it does not utilize magnetic fields. Functional MRI (fMRI) is a specialized type of MRI that measures brain activity by detecting changes in blood flow, but it still falls under the broader category of MRI technology. Therefore, it is MRI that specifically employs a magnetic field to achieve images of soft tissues.