Explore how the machine plays a role in the medical field
Image source: First Look at Your Baby: The Fascinating History of the “Sonogram”
For those of you who have seen Grey’s Anatomy, I am sure you have seen many doctors constantly in a rush with an ultrasound machine in every overly dramatized episode. From a victim of a brutal lion attack to a boy being impaled by a tree, we have all seen the doctors rushing towards the patient to use the transducer to swipe the patient’s stomach. Within the blink of an eye, a grey-ish and blurry image shows up on the monitor, and this could be a baby inside a mother’s stomach, or one of the heart’s ventricles. But have you ever wondered how this image magically appears on the screen within seconds, or how many ways this machine can work?
Ultrasounds, also known as sonography, is a non-invasive method of medical imaging. Typically associated with the detection of a pregnancy, it also covers various internal organs of the body, such as the heart. This form of imaging can detect a wide range of medical conditions, such as blood vessel blockages and tumours.
How it works
Using the transducer, the machine sends sound waves into the body, and records the waves that echo back when they hit a fluid or a boundary between tissues, and some even go into the bone. The gel applied before the imaging allows these waves to echo back to the computer. The computer uses the patterns of the electrical signals to transform them into images. For example, a solid tumor will echo back, forming a light, or white spot on the monitor.
Common Types of Ultrasounds
There are a couple of different types of ultrasounds. Here are the six most common:
- Pelvic Ultrasound Imaging
This type of ultrasound imaging is typically done in the lower parts of the abdomen, focusing on the urinary and reproductive systems. Doctors are able to examine the bladder, cervix, and uterus to detect conditions such as ovarian cysts, menstrual problems, and kidney stones.
- Abdominal ultrasounds
Abdominal ultrasounds typically look over organs in the middle of your body. It evaluates organs like the liver, gallbladder, and the pancreas. This type of ultrasound is usually used to detect sources of abdominal pain. For those who have watched Grey’s Anatomy, an example of the use of abdominal ultrasounds could be detecting bleeding after a traumatic event.
- Obstetric Ultrasounds
Obstetric ultrasounds are the most common type of ultrasound people associate with this type of medical imaging. Obstetric ultrasounds monitor the growth of the fetus and detect any abnormalities.
- Transvaginal ultrasound
Rather than being a “noninvasive method” of imaging, the medical examiner has to insert the transducer a few inches into the vagina. This is typically used to investigate pelvic pain.
- Transrectal ultrasound
Used to observe the prostate gland, this type of ultrasound is inserted into the rectum to check the gland at different angles.
- Carotid and Abdominal Aorta Ultrasound
A Carotid and Abdominal Aorta Ultrasound is used to check the blood flow between the neck and brain, specifically the carotid artery. This is typically used to check patients for stenosis, a blocking or narrowing in the artery.
Beyond Clinical Checkups: In Action in the ER
Beyond regular checkups, ultrasounds are also crucial tools in the emergency room. In an evaluation method named the “Focused Assessment with Sonography in Trauma” or in the abbreviation FAST, physicians, paramedics, and surgeons can rapidly examine the patient via ultrasound to detect blood around the heart or abdominal organs after a traumatic event to the body.
Benefits and Limitations
With all medical technologies, there come some advantages and disadvantages with their usage. Ultrasounds are considered very safe for medical examination and relatively cheap. There is no radiation exposure, and the machines are very portable and accessible to all patients. However, ultrasound machines can be noisy, and exclusive to certain body parts. For example, they cannot image bones well.
In closing, the ultrasound machine is a vital tool in the medical field. Whether it is for a routine checkup or when you get attacked by a lion in Seattle, it is there for your healthcare providers to provide you with the best care possible. Now, if you go back to binge-watching Grey’s Anatomy, or any medical show, you will have the knowledge to know the inner workings of this incredible machine!
Works Cited
“Advantages and Disadvantages of Using Ultrasound.” Aspiring Youths, https://aspiringyouths.com/advantages-disadvantages/using-ultrasound/. Accessed 18 February 2025.
“Focused assessment with sonography for trauma.” Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Focused_assessment_with_sonography_for_trauma. Accessed 18 February 2025.
“HOW DOES ULTRASOUND WORK?” Mayfair Diagnostics, https://www.radiology.ca/article/how-does-ultrasound-work/. Accessed 18 February 2025.
“6 Common Types of Ultrasound and How They Are Used.” Magnolia Healthcare Centre, https://www.mrhc.org/blog/radiology/6-common-types-of-ultrasound-and-how-they-are-used/. Accessed 18 February 2025.
“Ultrasound: What It Is, Purpose, Procedure & Results.” Cleveland Clinic, https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diagnostics/4995-ultrasound. Accessed 18 February 2025.
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