In A-mode, what does the x-axis represent?

In A-mode, what does the x-axis represent?

• A. Depth
• B. Time
• C. Amplitude
• D. Distance

Answer: (A)

In A-mode, the x-axis represents depth from the transducer. The ultrasound pulse travels into the tissue and echoes return at different depths; the horizontal position maps how deep the reflecting structure is, while the vertical height of each spike shows the echo’s strength (amplitude). Time of flight determines the depth, using the known speed of sound in tissue, but what the axis directly displays is distance into the body. Distance and depth convey the same idea here, but depth is the standard term used for the axis.

In A-mode, the x-axis represents depth from the transducer. The ultrasound pulse travels into the tissue and echoes return at different depths; the horizontal position maps how deep the reflecting structure is, while the vertical height of each spike shows the echo’s strength (amplitude). Time of flight determines the depth, using the known speed of sound in tissue, but what the axis directly displays is distance into the body. Distance and depth convey the same idea here, but depth is the standard term used for the axis.