Magnetic resonance relaxation characteristics of muscle, fat and bone marrow of the extremities. Normal values in a low field strength unit.

The T1 and T2 relaxation times were calculated in the bone marrow, subcutaneous fat and muscles in the extremities of 21 volunteers. There were no significant differences in relation to age or sex. In the same individual, the difference in the relaxation time was negligible between different sites in muscle, fat and bone. These and other normal values reported are dependent on examination technique and calculation method which must be compensated for when comparisons between materials from different centers are performed.