Abdominal ultrasonography

Abdominal ultrasonography uses high-frequency sound waves and their echoes to produce images of organs, vessels, and other structures within the abdomen.

Ultrasound transducer: A device that converts electrical energy into ultrasound pulses and returning echoes into electrical signals. It sends and receives the sound waves used to form abdominal images.
Right upper quadrant ultrasound: An ultrasound examination focused on the liver, gallbladder, bile ducts, and nearby structures. It is a common targeted study for pain in the upper-right abdomen.
Computed tomography: An imaging method that uses X-rays and computer processing to create cross-sectional body images. It often provides broader anatomic detail when ultrasound findings are limited or urgent questions persist.
Abdominal cavity: The body cavity between the diaphragm and pelvis that contains most digestive organs and other structures. Its boundaries define the region examined in abdominal ultrasonography.
Acoustic impedance: A measure of how strongly a material opposes the passage of sound, determined by its density and sound speed. Differences in impedance at tissue boundaries produce the echoes displayed in an abdominal scan.
Renal ultrasonography: Ultrasound imaging of the kidneys and urinary collecting system. It can assess kidney size, obstruction, and some causes of flank pain.
Magnetic resonance imaging: An imaging method that uses magnetic fields and radio waves to produce detailed images of the body. It can clarify selected abdominal findings without using ionizing radiation.
Peritoneum: A serous membrane lining the abdominal cavity and covering many abdominal organs. The peritoneal spaces are important sites for fluid and disease assessed by ultrasound.
B-mode ultrasonography: An ultrasound imaging mode that displays echo strength as brightness in a two-dimensional image. It is the standard grayscale mode for viewing abdominal anatomy.
Abdominal aortic aneurysm screening: Ultrasound screening to detect an abnormal enlargement of the abdominal aorta. A focused abdominal scan can identify this often symptomless vascular condition.

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