Ultrasound waves in tissue are which type of waves?

Ultrasound waves in tissue are which type of waves?

• A. Longitudinal and continuous
• B. Longitudinal
• C. Transverse
• D. Shear waves

Answer: (B)

In tissue, the waves produced for ultrasound are longitudinal (compressional) waves. This means the particle movement is parallel to the direction the wave travels, producing alternating compressions and rarefactions as the wave passes. Soft tissues and fluids have little shear rigidity, so transverse (shear) waves don’t propagate well there, which is why they aren’t the primary mode used in standard ultrasound imaging. The idea of “continuous” versus pulsed isn’t the defining feature here—the imaging modality relies on short pulses of longitudinal waves to create reflections and form an image. So the waves in tissue are longitudinal.

In tissue, the waves produced for ultrasound are longitudinal (compressional) waves. This means the particle movement is parallel to the direction the wave travels, producing alternating compressions and rarefactions as the wave passes. Soft tissues and fluids have little shear rigidity, so transverse (shear) waves don’t propagate well there, which is why they aren’t the primary mode used in standard ultrasound imaging. The idea of “continuous” versus pulsed isn’t the defining feature here—the imaging modality relies on short pulses of longitudinal waves to create reflections and form an image. So the waves in tissue are longitudinal.