File:ZScan Lines.jpg

Explanation of Diagram

This diagram is designed to show that a single pulse of ultrasound produces one scan line of information, so many pulses of ultrasound together produce many scan lines and ultimately a more complete cross-sectional image of the tissue being examined. A single scan line is shown on the left, and a more complete ultrasound image on the right.

The single scan line is the result of a single ultrasound pulse being emitted from a transducer into tissues, and the echoes of that pulse being received back and interpreted by the ultrasound machine software. The scan line shows light and dark dots that correspond to tissues within the body that have differing material properties.

The image on the right is the combination of many ultrasound pulses and thus many scan lines of information. It shows the profile of a fetus’s head and upper thorax at approximately 17 weeks.

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Image Copyright Information

Illustration by z3252833.

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References

Kremkali, F.W. (2006) Diagnostic Ultrasound Principles and Instruments (7th ed.) St Louis: Saunders Elsevier. pp 3-7