How Does an Ultrasound Work?

An ultrasound is a way for doctors to “see” inside your body from the outside. Most people have heard of an ultrasound during pregnancy to check the development of a growing fetus. But ultrasounds can be used to diagnose many types of internal conditions such as gallbladder, pelvic and abdominal issues.

During an ultrasound appointment, your doctor places a hand-held wand (transducer) on your skin that has been lubricated with a gel. The transducer transmits millions of high-frequency sounds waves through your body. The sounds will easily pass through fluids and soft tissues, but when the sound encounters a denser section in the body, the waves will bounce back to the machine and provide a 2-dimensional image of what is inside your body. As the doctor moves the transducer around your skin, different views of the internal object can be obtained.

For example, when used during pregnancy, the 2-D image is that of the growing fetus. When used to diagnose a gallbladder issue, the 2-D image may signify the presence of a gallstone.

There are also internal ultrasound transducers that can be used for genital areas, the esophagus and even inserted into the blood vessels.

Ultrasounds are extremely useful in diagnosing medical problems, identifying lumps/tumors, monitoring fetal development and more. The team at Westgate Family Physicians routinely performs gallbladder, abdominal and pelvic ultrasounds in Spartanburg, SC. If you are pregnant or having any type of health issue, our team may recommend an ultrasound procedure for you. Please call (864) 574-0070 or click here to schedule an appointment.