Which term refers to a visual record of a joint, often used with contrast material?

• A. Radiograph
• B. Myelogram
• C. Serum Calcium
• D. Arthrogram

Answer: (D)

An arthrogram is a visual record of a joint obtained with contrast material. This procedure injects contrast into the joint space so the outlines of the joint’s internal structures—cartilage, ligaments, capsule, and sometimes the labrum—are clearly visible on imaging such as X-ray, CT, or MRI. The contrast helps distinguish soft tissues from bone, making tears or degenerative changes easier to identify. In contrast, a radiograph is a plain X-ray image without joint-space contrast, a myelogram images the spinal canal after contrast injection into the spinal fluid, and serum calcium is a blood test, not an imaging study.