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What is Ultrasound?
A rapidly oscillating crystal inaudible to the human ear produces
sound waves to produce an image. A transducer is used to transmit
and receive the echoes. Differing tissue interfaces within the body
reflect the sound, and a computer in the ultrasound unit produces
an image from the returning echo pattern.
Ultrasound is used to examine many parts of the body, including
babies in the mother's womb, the vascular system, heart, organs
within the abdominal cavity, urinary system, ovaries, brain, spinal
cord and most recently, the muscles and skeletal system. Ultrasound
is used in the differentiation of fluid-filled versus solid structures.
Air and bone as well as calcified tissues absorb nearly all the
ultrasound beam making examination of bones and lungs difficult.
Ultrasound can be used with biopsy techniques to take samples of
tissues deep in the body.
How is the Procedure Performed?
The transducer must be in close contact with the skin for the examination
since the frequency of sound produced does not transmit though air.
A jelly-like substance is applied to the skin to improve the transmission
of sound through tissue. The transducer is moved over the skin of
the body part to be examined. On occasion it may be necessary to
place the transducer in the vagina or rectum to obtain the best
images of pelvic structures.
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