Ultrasound Orientation and Terminology (Vocabulary)

A set of vocabulary flashcards covering directional terms, planes, image orientation concepts, echo terminology, image controls, and transducer types relevant to ultrasound orientation and interpretation.

Ventral

Toward the front or belly

EX: the aorta is ventral to the spinal column

Dorsal

Toward the back or spine

EX: The spinal column is dorsal to the aorta

Anterior

Toward the ventral/front side

ex: The sternum is anterior to the heart

Posterior

Toward the dorsal/back side

ex: The esophagus is posterior to the trachea

Superior

Above (towards the head)

ex: The heart is superior to the diaphram

Inferior

Below (towards the feet)

ex: the liver is inferior to the diaphragm

Medial

Toward the midsagittal plane

midsagittal plane: straight down the middle of body

ex the heart is medial to the lungs

Lateral

Away from the midsagittal plane (away from the middle)

ex: the clavicles (collarbone) are lateral from the sternum

Proximal

Closer to the point of attachment or origin (above)

ex: the elbow is proximal ^^^ to the wrist

Distal

Farther from the point of attachment or origin (below)

ex: the fingers are distal to the shoulders

Central

Near or toward the midline of the body

ex: the brain and spinal cord make up the central nervous system

Peripheral

Away from the midline or center of the body

ex: peripheral nerves lead from the spinal cord to the skeletal muscles blood drawn from a fingerstick is peripheral blood

Superficial

Closer to the body surface

ex: the skin is superficial to the muscles

Deep

Farther from the body surface

ex: the bones are deep to the muscles

Ipsilateral

on the same side of the body

ex: the right arm is ipsilateral to the right leg

Contralateral

on opposite sides of the body

ex: the left arm is contralateral to the right leg

Anechoic

No internal echoes; appears black; typical of fluid-filled structures.

ex blood vessels, urine, bile

Echogenicity

The brightness or strength of echoes

hyperechoic = more echogenic than surrounding structures

hypoechoic = less echogenic than surrounding structures

isoechoic = same echogenicity

anechoic = no internal echoes

Hypoechoic

Low amount of echoes (varying shades of darker gray)

ex: the liver is hypoechoic to the pancreas

meaning the liver is darker shades of gray when compared to the pancreas

Hyperechoic

Greater amount of echoes (varying shades of lighter gray)

the pancreas is hyperechoic to the liver

meaning the pancreas is lighter shades of gray when compared to the liver

Isoechoic

Having similar echogenicity to a neighboring structure

Homogeneous

Uniform grayscale echo pattern throughout the structure

ex: liver is homogeneous (looks normal)

Heterogeneous (inhomogeneous)

grayscale echo pattern is Irregular or mixed echo pattern within a structure.

ex: liver is inhomogeneous (non uniform texture pattern)

Gray Scale

The range of grays used to display echoes in ultrasound imaging

anechoic, hypoechoic, hyperechoic, echogenic

Posterior enhancement

Increased brightness behind a fluid-filled structure due to low attenuation.

Sound or posterior attenuation

Dark, no echoes beyond a structure due to attenuation.

Cyst

A fluid-filled structure that is anechoic and often shows posterior enhancement.

Cholelithiasis

Gallbladder with gallstones

stones are echogenic and may cast posterior shadow.

Gallbladder is anechoic

Anechoic cyst

A fluid-filled structure with no internal echoes, showing posterior enhancement.

Focal point

level at which the ultrasound beam is most focused to improve resolution at that level.

Time Gain Compensation (TGC)

Controls (near (top) /far (bottom) and overall gains) that compensate for depth-related attenuation.

Gain

Overall brightness control of the ultrasound image; includes near and far gain.

Depth

How deeply the sound beam penetrates

18cm

toggle up for decrease ( more superficial structures)

toggle down for increase (deeper structures)

Transducer

The ultrasound probe; converts electrical energy to sound waves and vice versa.

Convex transducer

Curved-array transducer; larger footprint; suitable for deeper structures.

Micro-convex transducer

Small curved-array transducer; good for limited spaces and pediatrics.

Phased array transducer

Small-footprint transducer, often used for cardiac imaging; beam is electronically steered.

Linear transducer

Flat, high-frequency array; ideal for superficial structures and vessels.

Curvi-linear / Curved transducer

Large footprint, ability to penetrate deep structures large variation in frequencies available

Suboptimal for superficial structures

Endocavitary / Transvaginal transducer

Placed inside the vagina for detailed views; used only for pelvic first trimester or early second trimester exams measuring cervical length

Sagittal plane

A vertical plane dividing the body into left and right sections (midline reference).

Transverse plane

A horizontal plane dividing the body into superior and inferior parts.

Coronal plane

A plane dividing the body into anterior and posterior portions.

Supine

Lying with face and torso UP (flat on back)

Left lateral decubitus

lying on the left side

upright

sitting elevated with head and upper body raised at an angle between 60-90 degrees

Prone

laying with face and torso facing DOWN

Sagittal imaging Plane

midline sagittal plane (Notch toward the head)

Transverse imaging plane

imaging sideways —— Notch right shoulder

right left

Oblique imaging plane

criss cross X

Coronal imaging plane

sliced in half but laying on back

Echoes

reflected sound waves displayed as varying shades of gray

Echogenic

the ability of a structure to produce echoes

• “bright” or white on ultrasound

  ex: stone, calcification, bone