ALABAMA DIAGNOSTIC MEDICAL
SONOGRAPHY EXAM — 150 QUESTIONS,
ANSWERS & RATIONALES
What is the primary purpose of diagnostic medical sonography?
A. To treat tumors
B. To produce diagnostic images using high-frequency sound waves
C. To measure blood glucose
D. To administer medications
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Diagnostic medical sonography uses high-frequency sound
waves to create images of internal body structures.
Which physical principle is primarily responsible for ultrasound
imaging?
A. Ionizing radiation
B. Magnetic resonance
C. Reflection of sound waves
D. Radioactive decay
Correct Answer: C
,Rationale: Ultrasound images are generated largely from echoes
produced when sound waves encounter tissue interfaces.
Which unit is used to measure ultrasound frequency?
A. Decibel
B. Hertz
C. Pascal
D. Ohm
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Frequency is measured in hertz (Hz), representing cycles per
second.
What frequency range is commonly used in diagnostic ultrasound?
A. 1–20 Hz
B. 20–200 Hz
C. Approximately 1–20 MHz
D. 100–500 MHz
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Diagnostic ultrasound generally uses frequencies in the
megahertz range.
Which transducer is commonly used for abdominal imaging?
A. Linear
,B. Curvilinear
C. Pencil Doppler
D. Intravascular
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Curvilinear transducers provide a broad field of view and are
commonly used for abdominal examinations.
Which transducer is generally preferred for superficial structures such
as the thyroid?
A. High-frequency linear
B. Low-frequency curvilinear
C. Phased-array cardiac
D. Endocavitary only
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: High-frequency linear transducers provide excellent
resolution for superficial anatomy.
What happens to ultrasound frequency when wavelength decreases in
the same medium?
A. Frequency decreases
B. Frequency increases
C. Frequency becomes zero
D. Frequency is unchanged
, Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Frequency and wavelength are inversely related when sound
speed remains constant.
Which factor primarily determines ultrasound propagation speed in
tissue?
A. Tissue stiffness and density
B. Monitor brightness
C. Transducer color
D. Patient age alone
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Sound travels at different speeds depending mainly on the
medium's stiffness and density.
Approximately how fast does sound travel through average soft tissue?
A. 154 m/s
B. 1,540 m/s
C. 15,400 m/s
D. 154,000 m/s
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The standard assumed propagation speed in soft tissue is
approximately 1,540 m/s.
What is attenuation?
SONOGRAPHY EXAM — 150 QUESTIONS,
ANSWERS & RATIONALES
What is the primary purpose of diagnostic medical sonography?
A. To treat tumors
B. To produce diagnostic images using high-frequency sound waves
C. To measure blood glucose
D. To administer medications
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Diagnostic medical sonography uses high-frequency sound
waves to create images of internal body structures.
Which physical principle is primarily responsible for ultrasound
imaging?
A. Ionizing radiation
B. Magnetic resonance
C. Reflection of sound waves
D. Radioactive decay
Correct Answer: C
,Rationale: Ultrasound images are generated largely from echoes
produced when sound waves encounter tissue interfaces.
Which unit is used to measure ultrasound frequency?
A. Decibel
B. Hertz
C. Pascal
D. Ohm
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Frequency is measured in hertz (Hz), representing cycles per
second.
What frequency range is commonly used in diagnostic ultrasound?
A. 1–20 Hz
B. 20–200 Hz
C. Approximately 1–20 MHz
D. 100–500 MHz
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Diagnostic ultrasound generally uses frequencies in the
megahertz range.
Which transducer is commonly used for abdominal imaging?
A. Linear
,B. Curvilinear
C. Pencil Doppler
D. Intravascular
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Curvilinear transducers provide a broad field of view and are
commonly used for abdominal examinations.
Which transducer is generally preferred for superficial structures such
as the thyroid?
A. High-frequency linear
B. Low-frequency curvilinear
C. Phased-array cardiac
D. Endocavitary only
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: High-frequency linear transducers provide excellent
resolution for superficial anatomy.
What happens to ultrasound frequency when wavelength decreases in
the same medium?
A. Frequency decreases
B. Frequency increases
C. Frequency becomes zero
D. Frequency is unchanged
, Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Frequency and wavelength are inversely related when sound
speed remains constant.
Which factor primarily determines ultrasound propagation speed in
tissue?
A. Tissue stiffness and density
B. Monitor brightness
C. Transducer color
D. Patient age alone
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Sound travels at different speeds depending mainly on the
medium's stiffness and density.
Approximately how fast does sound travel through average soft tissue?
A. 154 m/s
B. 1,540 m/s
C. 15,400 m/s
D. 154,000 m/s
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The standard assumed propagation speed in soft tissue is
approximately 1,540 m/s.
What is attenuation?
