Final answer:
Computed tomography (CT), or computed axial tomography (CAT), is a medical imaging technique that creates detailed cross-sectional images from X-rays taken at different angles, allowing for three-dimensional modeling of the patient's internal structures.
Step-by-step explanation:
The process described involves a medical imaging technique known as computed tomography (CT), also referred to as computed axial tomography (CAT). This technique employs a series of X-ray images taken from multiple angles around the body and uses computer processing to create cross-sectional images or "slices" of bones, blood vessels, and soft tissues inside the body. CT scans provide more detailed information than standard two-dimensional X-ray images, allowing for the creation of three-dimensional models of the patient's anatomy. This is particularly useful since a standard X-ray's two-dimensional view often cannot differentiate between structures that are overlapped in the image, such as bones obscuring soft tissue. CT technology revolutionized medical imaging and was awarded the Nobel Prize in Medicine in 1979 for its development.