Diagnostic Ultrasound, also called ultrasound scanning or sonography, produces pictures of the inside of the body using sound waves. It involves the use of a small transducer (probe) and ultrasound gel placed directly on the skin. High-frequency sound waves are transmitted from the probe through the gel into the body. The transducer collects the sounds that bounce back and a computer then uses those sound waves to create an image.

Ultrasound examinations do not use ionizing radiation (as used in x-rays), thus there is no radiation exposure to the patient. Because ultrasound images are captured in real-time, they can show the structure and movement of the body’s internal organs, as well as blood flowing through blood vessels,  enabling medical professionals to use both sounds and visuals to assess a patient’s health.

Learn more at RadiologyInfo.org