ul·tra·sound   (ŭl'trə-sound')    n.   Ultrasonic sound. Medicine The use of ultrasonic waves for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes, specifically to image an internal body structure, monitor a developing fetus, or generate localized deep heat to the tissues.

ultrasound

A method of diagnosing illness and viewing internal body structures in which sound waves of high frequency are bounced off internal organs and tissues from outside the body. The technique measures different amounts of resistance the body parts offer to the sound waves, and then uses the data to produce a “picture” of the structures. Ultrasound is often used to obtain an image of the developing fetus in pregnant women; the image can confirm the presence of twins or triplets and can be used to diagnose some abnormalities.

Note: When an image of the inside of the body is needed, ultrasound is often considered a safer alternative to x-rays. Like x-rays, ultrasound involves exposure of the body to a form of radiation; unlike x-rays, ultrasound has not been shown to be carcinogenic.

Main Entry: ¹ul·tra·sound
Pronunciation: '&l-tr&-"saund
Function: noun
1 : vibrations of the same physical nature assound but with frequencies above the range of human hearing —compare INFRASOUND
2 : the diagnosticor therapeutic use of ultrasound and especially a noninvasive technique involving the formation of a two-dimensional image used for the examination and measurement of internal body structures and thedetection of bodily abnormalities called also echography, sonography, ultrasonography
3 : a diagnostic examination using ultrasound

ultrasound ul·tra·sound (ŭl'trə-sound')
n.

1. Ultrasonic sound.

2. The use of ultrasonic waves for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes, specifically to visualize an internal body structure, monitor a developing fetus, or generate localized deep heat to the tissues.