Common Ultrasound Terms

A comprehensive vocabulary review of 74 common ultrasound terms based on the provided lecture notes.

Acoustic enhancement

"Increased echo amplitude" or "posterior through transmission" visualized posterior to a structure that does not attenuate (decrease, stop, impede, or absorb) the sound beam. Considered a type of sonographic artifact.

Acoustic impedance

The resistance a material provides to the passage of sound waves.

Acoustic shadows

"Reduced echo amplitude" or echo "drop off" posterior to a structure that attenuates (decreases, stops, impedes, or absorbs) the sound beam. Margins of the shadow are generally sharp and well defined. Considered a type of sonographic artifact.

ALARA (as low as reasonably achievable)

The prudent use of diagnostic sonography dictates that the output level and exposure time to ultrasound are minimized while obtaining diagnostic data.

Anechoic

Term used to describe an echo-free appearance on a sonographic image.

Anterior (ventral)

Situated at or directed toward the front. A structure in front of another structure.

Artifact

Image artifacts are echo features or structures observed on ultrasound images that are unassociated with the object being imaged.

Ascites

Accumulation of serous fluid anywhere in the abdominopelvic cavity.

Attenuation

Decrease in the intensity of the sound beam as it passes through a structure, caused by absorption, scatter, or beam divergence.

Axial (short axis) (view or section)

At right angles to longitudinal sections. Term used to describe the section of a structure portrayed within a scanning plane image.

Beam divergence

Widening of the sound beam as it travels.

Calculi/"stones"

Concentration of mineral salts that may accompany some disease processes.

Calipers (electronic)

Two or more measurement cursors that can be manipulated to calibrate the distance between echoes of interest on the imaging screen.

Color flow Doppler

Doppler shift information in a two-dimensional presentation superimposed on a real-time gray-scale anatomic cross-sectional image.

Complex mass

Abnormal mass within the body that is composed of both tissue and fluid.

Contralateral

Situated on or affecting the opposite side.

Contrast

A comparison to show differences.

Coronal scanning planes

Any plane parallel to the long axis of the body and perpendicular to sagittal scanning planes.

Coupling agent

Substance used to reduce air between the ultrasound transducer and surface of the skin.

Crura of diaphragm

Right and left crus or fibromuscular bands arising from the lumbar vertebrae that insert into the central tendon of the diaphragm.

Cystic

Describes the sonographic appearance of a fluid collection within the body that does not meet the criteria to be considered a true cyst.

Deep

Internal. Situated away from the surface.

Depth of penetration

Maximum distance the sound beam travels from the transducer through a medium.

Diffuse disease

Infiltrative disease throughout an organ that disrupts the otherwise normal sonographic appearance of organ parenchyma.

Distal

Situated farthest from the point of origin.

Doppler (effect)

Change in observed sound frequency caused by relative motion between the source of the sound or reflector and the observer.

Echogenic

Describes a structure that is able to produce echoes or echo patterns on sonograms.

Echopenic

Few echoes.

Echo texture

Describes the sonographic appearance of soft tissue structures within the body.

Extraorgan pathology

Abnormal disease process that originates outside of an organ.

Focal/multifocal change

Disease process confined to isolated area(s) of an organ.

Focal zone

The point at which the sound beam is the narrowest and the resolution is the best.

Gray scale

Scale of achromatic colors having multiple graduations from white to black.

Heterogeneous

Describes an irregular or mixed echo pattern on a sonographic image.

Homogeneous

Describes uniform or similar echo patterns on a sonographic image.

Hyperechoic

Comparative term used to describe an area in a sonographic image where the echoes are brighter or more intense compared with surrounding structures.

Hypoechoic

Comparative term used to describe an area in a sonographic image where the echoes are not as bright compared with surrounding structures.

Inferior (caudal)

Toward the feet. Situated below or directed downward. A structure lower than another structure.

Infiltrative disease

Diffuse disease process that spreads throughout an entire organ.

Interface

The boundary between two materials or structures.

Intraorgan pathology

Abnormal disease process that originates within an organ.

Intraperitoneal

Abdominopelvic structures enclosed in the sac formed by the parietal peritoneum.

Ipsilateral

Situated on or affecting the same side.

Isogenic/isoechoic

Comparative term used to describe an area in a sonographic image where the echo patterns are equal in echogenicity.

Lateral

Pertaining to the right or left of the middle or midline of the body. Describes a structure situated at, on, or toward the side.

Localized disease

Represents a circumscribed mass or multiple masses.

Long axis (view or section)

Represents the longest length of a structure.

Longitudinal (view or section)

Pertains to length; running lengthwise.

Mass

Circumscribed disease process.

Medial

Situated at, on, or toward the middle or midline of the body.

Medium

Any material through which sound waves travel.

Mesentery

A double fold of peritoneum that connects intraperitoneal organs to the abdominal cavity wall.

Midsagittal and parasagittal scanning planes

Any plane parallel to the long axis of the body and perpendicular to coronal scanning planes.

Mirror image artifact (non-Doppler)

The sonographic image of a structure is duplicated in an atypical position and appears as a mirror image of the original.

Necrotic

Degeneration or "death" of tissue.

Neoplasm

New, abnormal growth of existing tissues; either benign or malignant.

Orthogonal

At right angles; perpendicular.

Parenchyma

Tissue composing an organ.

Peritoneum

Thin sheet of tissue that lines the peritoneal cavity and secretes serous fluid, which serves as a lubricant and facilitates free movement between organs. Classified as parietal (portion of lining that forms a closed sac) and visceral (portion of lining that directly covers organs and various body structures). Characterized as intraperitoneal (inside the sac) and retroperitoneal (posterior or behind the sac).

Pleural effusion

A collection of fluid inside the lung.

Posterior (dorsal)

Situated at or directed toward the back. A structure behind another structure.

Proximal

Situated closest to the point of origin or attachment.

Retroperitoneum

Area of the abdominopelvic cavity located behind or posterior to the peritoneum.

Reverberation

Ultrasound image artifact caused when sound waves pass through and beyond a structure whose acoustic impedance is noticeably different from an adjacent structure, causing a huge amount of reflection back to the transducer.

Septations

Thin, membranous inclusion(s) within a mass.

Solid mass

Abnormal mass within the body composed of one thing, tissue.

Sonogram

Pictorial record with ultrasound.

Sonographer

Highly skilled allied health professional qualified by technologic education to perform ultrasound examinations of patients and document the results under the supervision of a physician.

Sonologist

The physician who interprets a sonogram.

Superficial

External. Situated on or toward the surface.

Superior (cranial)

Toward the head. Situated above or directed upward. A structure higher than another structure.

Systemic

Pertains to the body as a whole.

TCC (time-gain compensation)

Increase in receiver gain with time to compensate for loss in echo amplitude, usually due to attenuation, with depth.

Through transmission

"Increased echo amplitude" or "acoustic enhancement" visualized posterior to a structure that does not attenuate (decrease, stop, impede, or absorb) the sound beam. Considered a type of sonographic artifact.