SONO INTRO key terms

artifact

echo features or structures observed on US 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

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

caliculi

concentration of mineral salts that may accompany some disease process

color flow doppler

2-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

coronal scanning plane

any plane parallel to the long axis of the body and perpendicular to sagittal scanning plane

coupling agent

substance used to reduce air between the US 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 sonographic appearance of a fluid collection within the body that does not meet the criteria to be considered a true cyst

depth of penetration

maximum distance the sound beam travels from the transducer through a medium

diffuse diesase

infiltrative disease throughout an organ that disrupts the otherwise norma 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 observor

echogenic

structure that is able to produce echos or echo patterns on sonograms

echopenic

few echos

echo texture

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 areas of an organ

focal point

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

heterogenous

an irregular or mixed echo patterns on a sonographic image

homogenous

uniform or similar echo patterns on a sonographic image

hyperechoic

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

hypoechoic

comparative term used to describe an area in sonographic image where the echos are not as bright compared to 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

boundary between two materials or structures

intraorgan oathology

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/isosonic

echo patterns are equal in echogenicity

lateral

right or left of the midline of the body. situated at or toward the side

localized disease

represents a circumscribed mass or multiple masses

long axis

represents the longest length of a structure

longitudinal

running lengthwise

mass

circumscribed disease process

medial

toward the midline or middle of the body

medium

any material through which sound waves travel

mesentery

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

midsagittal and parasagittal scanning plane

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

mirror image artifact

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

necrotic

death of a 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 and visceral, intraperitoneal and retroperitoneal

pleural effusion

a collection of fluid inside the lung

posterior

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

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 within a mass

sonogram

pectorial record with US

sonologist

physician who interprets sonograms

sonographer

professional qualified by technological education to perform US examinations of patients and document the result under the supervision of a physician

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

TGC (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 the sound beam. considered a type of sonographic artifact

transducer

device capable of converting electrical energy to mechanical energy, and vice versa

transmission

term implying passage of energy through a material

transverse scanning planes

any plan perpendicular to the ling axis of the body

true cysts (simple cyst)

abnormal mass within the body composed of fluid

ultrasound

sound at frequencies above 20 kHz or above the range of human hearing