ultrasound
Ultrasound in Medical Diagnostics When used for imaging, ultrasonic waves are emitted from a transducer, a crystal exhibiting the piezoelectric effect the expansion and contraction of a substance when a voltage is applied across it, causing a vibration of the crystal . These highfrequency vibrations are transmitted into any tissue in contact with the transducer. Similarly, if a pressure is applied to the crystal in the form of a wave reflected off tissue layers , a voltage is produced which can be recorded. The crystal therefore acts as both a transmitter and a receiver of sound. Ultrasound is also partially absorbed by tissue on its path, both on its journey away from the transducer and on its return journey. From the time between when the original signal is sent and when the reflections from various boundaries between media are received, as well as a measure of the intensity loss of the signal , the nature and position of each boundary between tissues and organs may be deduced. Reflections at boundaries between two different media occur because of differences in a characteristic known as the acoustic impedance Z of each substance. Impedance is defined as.