Question

Contrast agents containing barium sulfate:

1. enhance structures because they are absorbed into the blood stream
2. enhance structures because they are absorbed through the small intestine
3. pass through the GI tract unchanged

Answer 1

Barium sulfate passes through the GI tract unchanged and enhances X-ray imaging without being absorbed.

Step-by-step explanation:

Contrast agents containing barium sulfate are used in medical imaging to enhance the visual detail of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract during X-ray examinations. When patients ingest a suspension of barium sulfate, a chalky compound, it coats the lining of the intestinal tract without being absorbed into the bloodstream. Because of its very low solubility product (Ksp), barium sulfate passes through the GI tract unchanged. This allows barium-coated areas to appear white on an X-ray, enabling doctors to diagnose conditions such as acid reflux disease, Crohn's disease, and ulcers.