ARDMS Ultrasound Physics & Instrumentation Practice Exam 2025 - Free Ultrasound Practice Questions and Study Guide

The relationship between frequency and tissue attenuation is critical to understanding how ultrasound interacts with different materials in the body. Higher frequencies are subject to greater attenuation when passing through tissue compared to lower frequencies. This is primarily due to the fact that as frequency increases, the energy of the ultrasound waves is absorbed and scattered more rapidly by the tissues.

When ultrasound waves travel through tissue, higher frequencies result in a higher rate of energy loss due to absorption, reflection, and scattering. This means that higher frequency ultrasound will not penetrate as deeply into the tissue as lower frequency ultrasound, making it less suitable for imaging structures that are located deeper in the body. In contrast, lower frequencies have longer wavelengths, which allow them to penetrate deeper without as much loss of intensity, enabling better visualization of deeper anatomical structures.

Understanding this principle is fundamental in selecting the appropriate frequency for ultrasound examinations, as different clinical situations may require a balance between image resolution and depth of penetration.