The specular echo originates from relatively large, strongly reflective, regularly shaped objects with smooth surfaces. These intense reflections are angle dependent, and are described by reflectivity equation. This type of reflection is called specular reflection (i.e. IVS, valves).

See also False Distance Artifact, and Scattered Echo.

Ultraharmonic is an oscillation at a frequency that is a rational multiple of that of its fundamental sinusoidal oscillation, for example 1.5 or 2.5 times the fundamental frequency. Ultraharmonic imaging is a method to eliminate tissue artifacts and therefore increase contrast to tissue ratio.
Also called Superharmonic Imaging.

See also Power Modulation.

Sound waves must have a medium to pass through. The velocity or propagation speed is the speed at which sound waves travel through a particular medium measured in meters per second (m/s) or millimeters per microsecond (mm/μs). Because the velocity of ultrasound waves is constant, the time taken for the wave to return to the probe can be used to determine the depth of the object causing the reflection.
The velocity is equal to the frequency x wavelength.
V = f x l
The velocity of ultrasound will differ with different media. In general, the propagation speed of sound through gases is low, liquids higher and solids highest. The speed of sound depends strongly on temperature as well as the medium through which sound waves are propagating. At 0 °C (32 °F) the speed of sound in air is about 331 m/s (1,086 ft/s; 1,192 km/h; 740 mph; 643 kn), at 20 °C (68 °F) about 343 metres per second (1,125 ft/s; 1,235 km/h; 767 mph; 667 kn)

Velocity (m/s)

Doppler ultrasound visualizes blood flow-velocity information. The peak systolic velocity and the end diastolic velocity are major Doppler parameters, which are determined from the spectrum obtained at the point of maximal vessel narrowing. Peak systolic velocity ratios are calculated by dividing the peak-systolic velocity measured at the site of flow disturbance by that measured proximal of the narrowing (stenosis, graft, etc.).

See Acceleration Index, Acceleration Time, Modal Velocity, Run-time Artifact and Maximum Velocity.

A voxel is a volume element (volumetric and pixel) representing a value in the three dimensional space, corresponding to a pixel for a given slice thickness. Voxels are frequently used in the visualization and analysis of medical data. The ultrasound pixel intensity is proportional to the signal intensity of the appropriate voxel.

See also Slice Thickness Artifact.

A zone is a focal region of the ultrasound beam. An ultrasound beam can be directed and focused at a transmit focal zone position. The axial length of the transmit focal zone is a function of the width of the transmit aperture.
The field to be imaged is deepened by focusing the transmit energy at progressively deeper points in the body, caused by the beam properties. Typically, multiple zones are used. The main reason for multiple zones is that the transmit energy needs to be greater for points that are deeper in the body, because of the signal's attenuation as it travels into the body.

Beam zones:
The tightest focus and the narrowest beam widths for most conventional transducers are in the mid-field within the zone where the acoustic lens is focused. The ultrasound beam is less well focused and, therefore, wider in the near and far fields which are superficial and deep to the elevation plane focal zone. The beam width is greater in the near and far fields, making lesions in these locations more subject to a partial volume artifact.

See also Derated Quantity.