What imaging procedure uses a computer to produce cross sections along an axis?

Computed axial tomography, commonly known as CT or CAT scanning, uses a computer to produce detailed cross-sectional images of the body along specific axes. This imaging technique involves taking multiple X-ray measurements from different angles around the body, which a computer then processes to create precise, cross-sectional images or slices of the internal structures. This method is particularly valuable for visualizing complex anatomy and assessing various conditions involving bones, organs, and tissues.

In contrast, standard X-ray imaging captures a single image and does not provide the detailed, layered view that CT offers. Magnetic resonance imaging, while also providing cross-sectional images, uses magnetic fields and radio waves instead of X-rays, which differentiates it from CT. Ultrasound imaging relies on sound waves to create images and does not produce cross-sectional views in the same manner as computed tomography.