This concise account of the physics and functioning of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is aimed at everyone who wishes to work with MRI and who seeks an easily understandable introduction to the workings of this somewhat complex technique. The reader is presented with a condensed, yet clearly structured overview of the basics of MRI. Special emphasis is placed on the demands of its everyday clinical routine application. The opening chapters introduce the basics of MR function and the MR sequences most widely applied for clinical routines. There follow discussions of the basics of parallel imaging and of techniques to image the arterial and venous systems. The book is rounded off by chapters on MR artefacts, MR contrast media, and safety concerns for MRI. Book jacket.