what is ultrasound?

Answer 1

Ultrasound involves the use of high-frequency sound waves to create images of organs and systems within the body. An ultrasound machine creates images that allow various organs in the body to be examined. The machine sends out high-frequency sound waves, which reflect off body structures. A computer receives these reflected waves and uses them to create a picture.

FYI: It is used for MANY more things than pregnancy:

Vascular ultrasound
Doppler/ultrasound of the heart
Doppler ultrasound of an arm or a leg
Duplex Doppler/ultrasound exam of an arm or a leg
Abdominal ultrasound
Thyroid ultrasound
Breast ultrasound
Transvaginal ultrasound
Rectal ultrasound
Testicle ultrasound
and more

Answer 2

Ultrasound, diagnostic and therapeutic technique in which a very high frequency sound is directed into the body.
The soft-tissue surfaces reflect the sound and the resulting pattern of sound reflection is processed by a computer to produce a moving image on a screen or on photographic film. The sound is produced by a rapidly oscillating crystal and, with a frequency greater than 20 kHz, is inaudible to humans. The crystal vibrates for one millionth of a second about 500 times per second. A transducer is used to transmit the sound and receive the echoes. It must be held in close contact with the skin; a jelly-like substance is smeared on the skin in order to improve the acoustics.

Ultrasound Scanning
Ultrasound is commonly used in obstetrics to diagnose both the age and health of the developing foetus. An ultrasound-emitting device called a transducer is placed against the skin of the pregnant woman’s abdomen. The sound waves are reflected in varying degrees when they come into contact with tissues of different density and elasticity. The pattern of echoes is detected by the transducer and converted into a moving image seen on a monitor. Because ultrasound waves pass readily through soft tissue but not through bone or gas, the technique cannot be used to scan parts of the body such as the brain, lungs, or intestines, but is an invaluable, non-invasive diagnostic tool for examining fluid-filled organs, such as the bladder, kidneys, and ovaries.

Answer 3

Inaudible sound in the frequency range of approx. 20,000 to 10 billion cycles per second. Ultrasound has different velocities in tissues that differ in density and elasticity from others. This property permits the use of ultrasound in outlining the shape of various tissues and organs in the body. I've had several done. Depending on what you are being tested for determines whether or not ultrasound should be used. I had a rather large lump in my breast that was easily felt but the mammogram did not see it. The US did! Shortly after, I had surgery.

Answer 4

It is when a machine is used to see the inside of your body with radiation. Women have ultrasounds when they are pregnant to see the baby. Also you can have an ultrasound to see bleeding in the body or look for cancer in the breast.

Answer 5

There are some good answers here but the most important thing, ultrasound does not use radiation or radio waves, it is just sound waves.

Answer 6

Get pregnant and go to check-ups with a doctor and then they will do an ultrasound. Or read a medical book or ask your mom.

Answer 7

its when a special machine looks at the insides of the:
uterus
stomach
intertines,
and mainly uterus.
it telles if somethings wroung but aminly only pregnat women get it done so they can see theri baby and see if its girl or boy.

Answer 8

they bounce radiowaves off of whatever is inside.
When they return to the reciever, it shows how long it took them to come back and makes an image from that.

Used to see children in the womb and sometimes to see the brain.