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

Increasing the depth of imaging in ultrasound typically decreases the frame rate due to the way ultrasound systems operate. Frame rate is fundamentally related to how quickly the ultrasound system can send out pulses and receive echoes.

When imaging at greater depths, the ultrasound system must allow more time for the sound waves to travel to the deeper tissues and back before it can send the next pulse. This extended time required for pulse transmission and reception means that fewer frames can be captured per second, leading to a reduced frame rate.

Conversely, when imaging at shallower depths, the system can send and receive pulses more quickly, therefore increasing the frame rate. Hence, the relationship between imaging depth and frame rate is inversely proportional: as depth increases, frame rate decreases. This is a critical concept for ultrasound practitioners to understand, as a lower frame rate can impact the quality of dynamic imaging, such as during the evaluation of moving structures.