Overview of What Sonography is

Sonography is beginning to be an important but great source of technology in the medical field. “Sonography is a diagnostic medical procedure that uses high frequency sound waves to produce dynamic visual images of organs, tissues, or blood flow in the body (Society of Diagnostic Medical Sonography).”

Sonographers use ultrasounds to monitor many things in men, women, and children. Sonographers use ultrasounds to diagnose things: heart disease, abnormalities, gynecological problems, reproductive systems, strokes, gallstones, liver damage, kidney dysfunction, illnesses, and disorders (Society of Diagnostic Medical Sonography).

Ultrasounds allow doctors to diagnose people and help find the best cure possible. To be a sonographer, the student has to have an associate’s degree in diagnostic medical sonography or a bachelor’s degree. There is a lot of education needed for this career, and a lot of commitment as well. Also, sonography has a lot to do with biology such as homeostasis, cells, tissues, nutrition, acid-base balance, and electrolytes.

There are a lot of different types of sonographers: breast sonography, echocardiography, vascular sonography, musculoskeletal sonography, neurosonology, abdominal sonography, and obstetrics (What Are The Different Types of Sonograms?). A breast sonogram sends sound waves through the breast to allow the doctor to view tissues and abnormalities.

In echocardiography, an image will be created using something called Doppler imaging, which takes images of the heart and views the heart pumping blood, the abnormalities in the valves, the operation of the heart; Doppler imaging makes various calculations containing speed, direction, and the volume of blood that flows in and out of the heart (What Are The Different Types of Sonograms?). Vascular technology is a similar form of echocardiography, is an ultrasound that can locate blood vessels in the body that may have damage or blockages and determine the rate at which the blood flows through the veins and arteries (What Are The Different Types of Sonograms?). Musculoskeletal sonography will allow the doctor to detect any injuries, damaging, and abnormalities to the joints (What Are The Different Types of Sonograms?).

In neurosonology, there are ultrasounds that are used for studying blood vessels that are located in the brain, which may have damages, blockages, or is being flawed in any way; in neurosonology, tumors or any issue in the cranial region may be viewed as well (What Are The Different Types of Sonograms?). Another type of sonography is called abdominal sonography and is where a sonographer is able to view the abdomen and internal organs; there are many types of complications that can show up on an abdominal sonogram such as kidney stones, gallstones, and tumors (What Are The Different Types of Sonograms?).

The last type of sonography is called obstetrics, it is the most common occupation in sonography, sonographers who go into obstetrics are able to view images of the growth and development of a fetus, they also watch for abnormalities, cysts, ectopic pregnancy, or any other issues (What Are The Different Types of Sonograms?).

Writing this paper was a great learning experience and helped clarify the types of sonography and how it impacts daily lives.

Works Cited

1. Society of Diagnostic Medical Sonography. (n.d.). What is Sonography? Retrieved from https://www.sdms.org/resources/what-is-sonography
2. Society of Diagnostic Medical Sonography. (n.d.). Ultrasound. Retrieved from https://www.sdms.org/resources/ultrasound
3. Society of Diagnostic Medical Sonography. (n.d.). Types of Sonographers. Retrieved from https://www.sdms.org/resources/types-of-sonographers
4. Society of Diagnostic Medical Sonography. (n.d.). Education & Careers. Retrieved from https://www.sdms.org/resources/education-careers
5. What Are The Different Types of Sonograms? (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.aimseducation.edu/blog/what-are-the-different-types-of-sonograms/
6. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (n.d.). Ultrasound in Pregnancy. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/spanish/pregnancyanddiabetes/spanishultrasound.html
7. American Heart Association. (n.d.). Echocardiogram. Retrieved from https://www.heart.org/-/media/files/health-topics/tests-and-diagnosis/echocardiogram.pdf
8. American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine. (n.d.). Musculoskeletal Sonography. Retrieved from https://www.aium.org/officialStatements/33
9. American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine. (n.d.). Neurosonology. Retrieved from https://www.aium.org/officialStatements/32
10. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. (n.d.). Obstetric Ultrasound. Retrieved from https://www.acog.org/clinical/clinical-guidance/practice-bulletin/articles/2019/10/ultrasound-in-pregnancy