An MRI apparatus is provided to quantify perfusion (microcirculatory blood
flow in the tissue) in a region to be imaged in a subject based an ASL
(arterial spin labeling) technique. The apparatus comprises imaging,
storing, and flow quantifying units. The imaging unit performs a scan
according to the ASL technique on the region so that image data is
acquired from the region. The storing unit stores relationship
information between a concentration of tracer (water) and a flow of the
perfusion. The relationship is obtained on a two-compartment model that
uses two compartments placed inside and outside of a flow of blood that
diffuses into the tissue of the region and that considers temporal
changes in the diffusion of the microcirculatory blood flow into the
tissue. The flow quantifying unit quantifies the flow of the perfusion by
applying an amount derived from the image data to the relationship
information.