Question

Ultrasound waves produced for sonography is due to
(A) X-Rays
(B) Electrical effect
(C) Sound effect
(D) Piezo-electric effect

Answer 1

Sonography is a diagnostic imaging technique used in medical tests to determine the condition of developing foetus in the womb of the mother. It is also helpful in predicting the due date of the birth. It is also called Ultrasound imaging or Ultrasound scanning.

Complete answer:
As the name suggests, ultrasound scanning is a technique that uses sound waves of high frequency for the processing of visual images. The frequency is more than 20 kHz and ranges till several gigahertz. It operates on the similar principles as to the bats who use high frequencies in order to detect their prey.

The high frequency of the sound wave makes it inaudible to the human ear. It helps the medical specialists in the diagnosis of various medical conditions as it provides information of the internal parts of the body. It is a most used technique during pregnancy to view the live images of the unborn child. It helps the doctors to analyse the position of foetus along with the determination of its size. It gives an idea of any existing abnormalities in the developing baby such as Down syndrome, heart defect, spinal cord defect etc. The device used in ultrasound is called Transducer.

The transducer sends a high pitched sound wave into the body which bounces off the organs and body tissues. These waves are then recorded which thereafter reflects on the monitor giving dynamic live images. It is widely used in pregnancies as it is known to be very safe for both the developing baby and the mother.

Hence, the correct answer is option (C).

Note: Ultrasonic scanning is the most widely used diagnostic technique around the world. It is often used as the primary technique to detect breast cancer in women as an application in breast imaging. It has also been proven useful in the detection of prostate cancer.