What does a sonogram primarily visualize?

A sonogram, also known as an ultrasound, primarily visualizes images of soft tissues and organs within the body. This technique utilizes high-frequency sound waves that are emitted from a transducer. When these sound waves encounter different tissues, some are reflected back, while others pass through. The varying densities and compositions of soft tissues (like muscles and organs) lead to different echo patterns, which are then translated into images on a monitor.

This capability to produce detailed images of soft tissues makes sonograms particularly valuable for assessing organs such as the heart, kidneys, liver, and reproductive organs. This imaging method is non-invasive, painless, and has no ionizing radiation, which is why it is frequently employed for both diagnostic and monitoring purposes in various medical fields.

While movements in the body and blood flow velocity can be assessed through ultrasound techniques, they are not the primary objective of a sonogram. Similarly, bone density levels are typically evaluated through different imaging modalities, such as X-rays or DEXA scans, rather than ultrasound.