Abdominal ultrasonography

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Abdominal ultrasonography (pronounced: ab-dom-in-al ul-tra-son-og-raphy) is a form of medical imaging that uses sound waves to create visual images of the abdomen. This technique is often used to visualize the organs within the abdominal cavity, including the liver, gallbladder, spleen, pancreas, and kidneys.

Etymology

The term "abdominal ultrasonography" is derived from three words: "abdomen", which is the part of the body that is being imaged; "ultra", which means beyond; and "sonography", which refers to the use of sound waves to create images.

Procedure

During an abdominal ultrasonography, a device called a transducer is used to send high-frequency sound waves into the body. These sound waves bounce off the organs and tissues within the body, and the echoes are then captured by the transducer. The echoes are converted into an image that can be viewed on a monitor.

Uses

Abdominal ultrasonography is used for a variety of purposes, including to diagnose conditions such as gallstones, kidney stones, and liver disease; to guide procedures such as biopsies; and to monitor the health of an organ over time.

Related Terms

  • Ultrasound: A type of imaging that uses sound waves to create pictures of the inside of the body.
  • Transducer: A device that converts one form of energy into another. In the case of ultrasonography, it converts sound waves into electrical signals that can be turned into images.
  • Sonogram: The image produced by an ultrasound examination.

See Also

External links

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