活體和生物材料核磁共振圖譜與一般化合物核磁共振的操作是一樣的，只是對試料本身應加以留意要維護其生物活性，細胞液在化學差移上辨識性小，但其氫-1 的遲豫時間常數T1 和T2 可以用來界定正常細胞和癌症細胞的參考，可以作為細胞老化的指標，各種偏重T1 和T2的磁振影像則有助於病兆診斷，磷-31 核磁共振圖譜可以用來追蹤活體中含磷化合物的變化及多寡，以及酸鹼值的測定，這些都可應用到活體，如細胞及組織上。

The in vivo nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR) is similar to that of the traditional one except special attention is needed for live samples (living cells and tissues) to ensure their vitality. The proton relaxation times T1 and T2 of cellular fluid of normal cells are different from those of cancerous ones. They can be used as markers of aging in gerontology studies. The T1- and T2-weighted MR images are also constantly being used to aid in MRI clinical diagnostics. The phorphorus-31 NMR is used to monitor the P containing chemicals in cells and tissues. Cellular pH values can be derived from the chemical shift values of the phosphoric acid in cells.