US Medical Term · tests
MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging)
Resonancia Magnética (RM)
What it means
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is an imaging test that is usually painless and uses magnets, radio waves, and a computer to create detailed pictures of the inside of the body. MRI does not use x-rays or other radiation. Scans show organs and soft tissues clearly and are often used to diagnose conditions that affect soft tissues and to monitor treatment. During the scan, you lie on a table that slides inside a large, tunnel-like machine, which makes loud noises as it takes pictures, and you need to stay very still. Sometimes contrast, a substance that helps some parts of the body show up more clearly, is given through a vein before the test. Metal objects or implants can interfere with the scan and may be unsafe.
MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) in Spanish
- Spanish term
- Resonancia Magnética (RM)
- Gender and article
- feminine: la resonancia magnética (plural: las resonancias magnéticas)
- Pronunciation
- reh-soh-NAHN-syah mahg-NEH-tee-kah
| Other Spanish terms | Where it is used | Note |
|---|---|---|
| IRM | General | Abbreviation MedlinePlus en español uses, from "imágenes por resonancia magnética"; the National Cancer Institute dictionary also uses IRM in its Spanish definition. |
| resonancia magnética nuclear (RMN) | General | Listed by MedlinePlus en español under "Otros nombres" on its health topic page. |
| imagen por resonancia magnética | General | Given in the National Cancer Institute dictionary's Spanish entry under "También se llama", together with IRMN and RMN. |
Resonancia magnética is the name MedlinePlus en español uses for the test: its encyclopedia article is titled Resonancia magnética, and the health topic asks ¿Cómo se realiza una resonancia magnética? The noun is feminine: una resonancia magnética, plural las resonancias magnéticas. The abbreviation RM appears on the topic page only in the titles of resources from other organizations that the page links to, such as Seguridad de la RM (Colegio Americano de Radiología; Sociedad de Radiología de Norteamérica).
These pages do not settle on one abbreviation. MedlinePlus en español writes imágenes por resonancias magnéticas (IRM) and lists resonancia magnética nuclear and RMN as other names; the National Cancer Institute dictionary writes la IRM and adds IRMN and RMN. RM, IRM and RMN are therefore all abbreviations a reader may meet for this test, while the English abbreviation is MRI. Useful words from the same pages: material de contraste (contrast material), imanes (magnets), ondas de radio (radio waves) and claustrofobia (anxiety in enclosed spaces).
Phrases for an appointment
What a patient or a clinician might say, in English and Spanish:
| Who | English | Spanish |
|---|---|---|
| Clinician | I am going to order an MRI of your knee. | Voy a pedirle una resonancia magnética de la rodilla. |
| Patient | Does an MRI use radiation? | ¿La resonancia magnética usa radiación? |
| Clinician | Do you have any metal or electronic devices in your body, such as a pacemaker or an artificial joint? | ¿Tiene dispositivos metálicos o electrónicos en el cuerpo, como un marcapasos o una articulación artificial? |
| Patient | I feel anxious in enclosed spaces. Is the machine open? | Siento ansiedad en espacios cerrados. ¿La máquina es abierta? |
| Clinician | Please remove your jewelry, watch, and hearing aids before the scan. | Por favor, quítese las joyas, el reloj y los audífonos antes del estudio. |
| Clinician | The machine makes loud noises, so we will give you earplugs. You will need to stay very still. | La máquina hace ruidos fuertes, así que le daremos tapones para los oídos. Tendrá que permanecer completamente inmóvil. |
| Patient | Will I receive contrast through a vein? | ¿Me van a poner contraste por una vena? |
| Patient | Who reviews the images, and when will I get the results? | ¿Quién revisa las imágenes y cuándo me darán los resultados? |
In 9 languages
| Language | Term |
|---|---|
| English | MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) |
| Spanish (Español) | Resonancia Magnética (RM) |
| Chinese (中文) | 磁振造影（MRI） |
| Korean (한국어) | MRI (자기공명영상) |
| Vietnamese (Tiếng Việt) | Chụp MRI (Chụp cộng hưởng từ) |
| Filipino (Tagalog) | MRI |
| Portuguese (Português) | Ressonância Magnética (RM) |
| Thai (ภาษาไทย) | เอ็มอาร์ไอ (การถ่ายภาพด้วยคลื่นแม่เหล็กไฟฟ้า) |
| Japanese (日本語) | MRI（磁気共鳴画像） |
Where you'll see it
Related terms
Your right to an interpreter in the United States
If English is not your primary language and you have difficulty communicating in English, you may need an interpreter or a translated document when you visit a doctor or dentist, go to the emergency room or pick up a prescription. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights states that two federal laws, Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act, require programs that receive its funding to provide language access services free of charge.
You can ask when you make the appointment or at the front desk: "I need an interpreter, please." «Necesito un intérprete, por favor.»
More terms: General care: tests, procedures and medicines
All terms in this area: General care: tests, procedures and medicines — Atención general: pruebas, procedimientos y medicamentos
Sources
- MRI Scans — MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine
- Imágenes por resonancia magnética — MedlinePlus en español, Biblioteca Nacional de Medicina
- Resonancia magnética (Enciclopedia médica) — MedlinePlus en español, Biblioteca Nacional de Medicina
- MRI — NCI Dictionary of Cancer Terms — National Cancer Institute (NCI), NIH
- IRM — Diccionario de cáncer del NCI — Instituto Nacional del Cáncer (NCI), NIH
- Limited English Proficiency (LEP): Your Right to Language Assistance Services — U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office for Civil Rights
This page is a language reference. It is not medical advice.
Last reviewed: October 7, 2026