How Does Ultrasound Work?
Ultrasound uses “cyclic sound pressure” in a frequency of approximately 20 kilohertz, which is higher than what the human ear can hear. The energy and sound waves measured through ultrasound equipment can reveal details about the inner structure of the body, and is most commonly used to produce pictures of fetuses in the womb.
Diagnostic Sonography
The most common use of ultrasound machines in the medical profession is in diagnostic imaging. Ultrasound equipment is used to visualize internal organs, muscles, and tendons, for their size, structure and any abnormalities within them. Typically, an ultrasound scan, or sonogram, is performed by a medical professional called a sonographer. One of the most widely used methods of ultrasound is during pregnancy, to visualize the fetus during prenatal care, but it has also been used to image other areas of the body for the past fifty years.
Because ultrasound technology is relatively inexpensive and portable, it has become one of the most widely used diagnostic tools in modern medicine. It is also known as the safest test because it uses no radiation, which has been known to cause cancer.
How is ultrasound equipment used during pregnancy?
Ultrasound machines produce three-dimensional, computerized images that can be used during by obstetricians during pregnancy to:
- Determine the gestational age of the fetus
- Confirm the viability of the fetus
- Determine the location of the fetus, whether uterine or ectopic
- Determine the sex of the baby
- Check for multiple pregnancies
- Check for any major abnormalities
- Assess the growth of the fetus
- Check for heartbeat and fetal movement
Today’s ultrasound machines can produce more detailed images than ever before, which are often used as a keepsake for the child. However, excessive “vanity” ultrasound testing is strongly discouraged by the American Medical Association.
