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

Higher frequency transducers do indeed provide improved resolution and image clarity due to their ability to produce shorter wavelengths. However, this comes with a significant trade-off when it comes to penetration depth. As frequency increases, the ability of ultrasound waves to penetrate through tissues decreases. This is primarily due to increased attenuation at higher frequencies, meaning that higher frequencies are absorbed more by soft tissues, limiting their ability to travel deeper into the body. Consequently, this results in reduced penetration depth, making higher frequency transducers less effective for imaging deeper structures.

In contrast, while the other aspects mentioned—such as cost or resolution in superficial structures—are relevant, they do not highlight the primary disadvantage as sharply as the reduced penetration depth. Thus, the significant disadvantage of using higher frequency transducers is indeed the limitation in how deeply these waves can travel into tissues, which is crucial for effectively visualizing certain anatomical structures.