This glossary has been created to help you learn more about medical ultrasound.
A-mode (or amplitude modulation)
Noun
An imaging technique that focuses on the different heights of amplitude spikes (such as in a heartbeat monitor).
Example: Amplitude modulation is susceptible to noise and interference.
fr: Mode A (ou modulation d'amplitude)
Acoustic enhancement (or posterior enhancement).
Noun.
The ability for sound waves to travel without return echoes because an anechoic space is full of fluid (such as cysts or the bladder), creating a black space in the sonogram.
Example: The cyst may become echogenic with or without posterior acoustic enhancement with a wall defect communicating with a biliary radical.
Area in which sound waves encounter a dense structure, such as a tumor or fetus, and all waves are reflected.
fr: Ombrage acoustique.
Aliasing phenomenon.
Noun.
Imaging error that occurs in color flow Doppler and pulsed wave Doppler scans; sampling rate is insufficient to record direction and velocity.
Example: Unfortunately, this is the phenomenon of aliases and this error will be taken into account
fr: Phénomène d'alias.
Attenuation.
Noun.
The tendency for ultrasound waves to decrease as they travel through tissues.
Example: Although the high flexibility of thin cables is desired, their high attenuation is not.
fr: Atténuation.
Color flow Doppler.
Noun.
Doppler scan that measures blood flow by attributing color to different velocities of movement
Example: We can see with the Doppler color flow that the blood circulates well.
fr: Doppler de flux de couleur.
Coronal scanning plane,
Noun
The ultrasound beam enters the body from the lateral (right or left) direction.
fr: Plan de balayage coronal.
Echocardiogram.
Noun.
Ultrasound of the heart and cardiac blood vessels; used to measure blood flow through the heart and how well it functions.
Example: The doctor carries out repeated echocardiogram studies as and when needed.
fr: Échocardiogramme.
Gel couplant.
noun
Gel used in an ultrasound scan; functions as the medium through which sound energy is transmitted between the transducer and the patient's skin.
Example: Supplied complete with transducer and gel - ready to use straight from the box.
fr: Gel couplant.
Lateral position.
Noun.
Toward the side.
Example: To determine the exact lateral position of the transmitter, you will need to find the FLP.
fr: Position latérale.
Lateral resolution.
Noun.
Minimum distance between two reflectors perpendicular to the ultrasound beam direction.
Example: Molecular imaging of tissues and cells with high lateral resolution is a field of rapidly growing interest and of extraordinary high potential.
fr: Résolution latérale.
Mechanical probes.
Noun
A transducer that has a motor inside.
Example: Therefore, avoid applying mechanical force to the probe tip.
fr: Sondes mécaniques.
Obstetric (OB) ultrasound.
Noun.
Scan of the lower abdomen to detect and monitor a growing fetus during pregnancy; typically occurs during 12-week scans (fetal size and development) and 20-week scans (fetal organs and development).
Example: However, the sensitivity and specificity of these assays are much lower than when combined with the ultrasound measurements.
fr: Échographie obstétricale (OB).
Sonogram.
Noun.
Image produced during an ultrasound.
Example: Your doctor will advise you to have a sonogram at least three times during pregnancy.
fr: Échographie.
Sound waves.
Noun
Waves of energy that are transmitted from a transducer through the gel couplant, skin and tissue; they return as echoes after being reflected by structures in the body.
Example: The energy in sound waves will drop with the square of the distance to the sound source.
fr: Les ondes sonores.
Speckle noise.
Noun.
Noise interference that reduces the quality of the image resolution in a sonogram,
Example: Speckle noise and modulation noise are present.
fr: Bruit moucheté.
Transducers.
Noun.
Devices that produce sound waves in ultrasounds and send return echoes to a computer, which compiles them into a sonogram.
Example: The acoustic sound came from a bridge mounted transducer with an active pre-amp.
fr: Transducteurs.
Ultrasound scans.
Noun
A medical procedure in which sound waves are beamed into the body, and their return echoes enable technicians to visualize what is happening under the skin.
Example: Look, if you're really worried, I could always fix you an ultrasound scan.
fr: Échographies.
Velocity of ultrasound.
Adjective.
The speed at which sound waves can travel through different parts of the body, measured in meters per second.
Example: This velocity is determined by the density and stiffness of the tissue, rather than by characteristics of the sound waves themselves.
