Ultrasound

Ultrasound is a kind of sound that is too high for our ears. Its frequency is above 20,000 hertz. Even though we cannot hear it, ultrasound has many uses. Doctors use it to see inside the body. Some animals use it every day.

Ultrasound in Medicine

Doctors use ultrasound machines to look inside people. The machine sends out sound waves and catches the echoes. A computer turns the echoes into a picture on a screen. Moms can see their babies before they are born this way. Ultrasound is safe because it does not use radiation.

Animals and Ultrasound

Bats and dolphins use ultrasound to find their way. They make high sounds and listen for the echoes. This tells them where walls, food, and other animals are. Some mice and rats also talk to each other in ultrasound. We need special tools to hear these sounds.

Fun Facts

• Ultrasound can be used to clean jewelry and glasses.
• Some bats use ultrasound to catch bugs in total darkness.
• Ultrasound can even break up kidney stones inside the body.

Did You Know?

The first medical ultrasound machine for seeing babies was made in the 1950s.