The beam redirected back to the transducer after striking a media boundary is called

The beam redirected back to the transducer after striking a media boundary is called

• A. Forward beam
• B. Reflected beam
• C. Transmitted beam
• D. Backscatter

Answer: (B)

When ultrasound meets a boundary between two media with different acoustic impedances, part of the wave is reflected back toward the transducer. This returning portion is the reflected beam. The rest of the energy continues into the second medium as the transmitted beam, possibly changing direction due to refraction. Backscatter, on the other hand, refers to energy scattered in many directions by small inhomogeneities within tissue and is what contributes to image brightness, not the direct boundary reflection itself. So the beam that returns to the transducer after striking the boundary is the reflected beam.

When ultrasound meets a boundary between two media with different acoustic impedances, part of the wave is reflected back toward the transducer. This returning portion is the reflected beam. The rest of the energy continues into the second medium as the transmitted beam, possibly changing direction due to refraction. Backscatter, on the other hand, refers to energy scattered in many directions by small inhomogeneities within tissue and is what contributes to image brightness, not the direct boundary reflection itself. So the beam that returns to the transducer after striking the boundary is the reflected beam.