Wow - seeing the inside of a human body for the first time! It’s almost like walking on the moon.

Ultrasound, like everything in science, is always out to improve on what came before. Recently a technique called the Doppler Effect was introduced to monitor the flow of blood to organs and tumours. The Doppler Effect measures the change in wavelength when sounds bounce off moving objects. That’s why cars go ‘nnnnyeeeaaaauuu’ as the move away from you.

Another nifty thing scientists discovered is ultrasound contrast agents. These are gas-filled micro bubbles injected into your system. Why do they want to turn you into a cooldrink? These bubbles have a high degree of echogenicity which means they’re good at reflecting the ultrasound waves - creating a more contrast-enhanced ultrasound image.

Software has also been developed which enables the machines to produce 3D images.

Source: The Naked Scientist

• A very insightful piece on exactly how the Doppler Effect works
• Visit Human Anatomy Online and explore the body through different systems
• An interactive 3D journey through the human body