Nuclear magnetic resonance has evolved from a laboratory analytical tool to become a rapidly developing discipline in clinical medicine. We present a brief historical overview, an introduction to the basic principles of the phenomenon, and a statement of the current status of clinical imaging. We have elected to use the traditional terminology nuclear magnetic resonance to refer to the imaging component of the field rather than the American College of Radiology (ACR) modification magnetic resonance. We do this out of respect for the founders of the field
