The Trail of Invisible Light: A Century of Medical Imaging
Egyptian Mummy
16. Three-dimensional reconstructions of the
mummy's head, courtesy of the Department
of Radiology, UIHC |
To demonstrate various forms of radiological imaging, a full-body X ray, a CT scan, and three-dimensional reconstructions of Udja, an aristocratic mummy from the 26th Egyptian Dynasty (663 to 525 BCE), have been made for this exhibition by UIHC staff. The mummy is being loaned by Chicago's Field Museum of Natural History, which acquired it in 1894. No prior radiologic examination had been made of the mummy before its sojourn at the Medical Museum, and visitors to the exhibit are the first to learn Udja's anatomical secrets. The papers that accompanied the mummy in 1894 identified it as female. However, analysis of the plain film X rays, CT scans, and 3-D reconstructions detected a penis, which finally confirms the sex of the mummy. |
| The images also revealed that Udja had impacted molars and some arthritis in the big toes. There were four bundles (probably containing the organs) placed inside the chest during the embalming process. Paleoradiologist Derek Notman, MD, believes that this mummy was aristocratic because of the great quantity of linen used and the care with which the mummy was wrapped. Embedded in the layers of linen are a few tiny circular objects. The CT scan and reconstructions also disclose a bundle between the legs which may be a linen scroll. |
17. Egyptian mummy, 26th Dynasty (663 to 525 BCE). Loaned by the Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago. #3001 |
18, 19. CT 3-dimensional reconstructions of Egyptian mummy, head and upper
thorax. Courtesy of the Department of Radiology, UIHC. |
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