Figure 3-6. The shape of the ultrasound beam is simulated in this drawing (purple). The focal zone (A) is located to produce the best lateral resolution of the medial renal cortex. The location of the focal zone is designated by the caret (B). The location of the focal zone can be adjusted by the operator.Figure 3-7. The relationship between velocity, frequency, and wave length of sound waves in tissue. Wavelength and frequency vary in an inverse relationship.Figure 3-8. A, In this sagittal view of the right kidney, the paucity of perinephric fat and thesmall impedance difference make it difficult to distinguish the interface between the kidney and the liver (arrows). B, The large impedance difference at the interface between urine and a bladder stone (arrow) results in significant reflection and attenuation of the sound wave. An acoustic shadow is seen distal to the stone (arrowhead).TABLE 3-1 Density and Impedance of Tissues Encountered During Urologic UltrasonographyDENSITY IMPEDANCEAir and other gases 1.2 0.0004Fat tissue 952 1.38Water and other clear liquids 1000 1.48Kidney (average of soft tissue) 1060 1.63Liver 1060 1.64Muscle 1080 1.70Bone and other calcified objects 1912 7.8Mechanisms of AttenuationAs sound waves transit tissues, energy is lost or attenuated. Mecha nisms of attenuation include reflection, scattering, interference,and absorption. Reflection is the key physical phenomenon that allows for information to return to the transducer as mechanical energy. Reflection occurs when ultrasound waves strike an object, a surface, or a boundary (called an interface) between unlike tissues.The shape and size of the object and the angle at which the advancing wave strikes the object are critical determinants of the amount of energy reflected. The amount of energy reflected from an interface is also influenced by the impedance of the two tissues at the inter face. Impedance is a property that is influenced by tissue stiffness and density. The difference in impedance allows an appreciation of interfaces between different types of tissue (Table 3-1).The impedance difference between perinephric fat and the kidney allows a sharp visual distinction at the interface. If the impedance difference between tissues is small (e.g., between liver and kidney), the interface between the tissues is more difficult to see (Fig. 3-8A). If impedance differences are large, there issignificant reflection of the sound wave producing an acousticalshadow distal to the interface (Fig. 3-8B).Scattering occurs when sound waves strike a small or irregular object. The resulting spherical wave overlaps waves of surrounding scattering objects (Fig. 3-9).When interacting sound waves are in phase or out of phase, their amplitude is enhanced or diminished. This pattern of interference is partially responsible for the echo architecture or texture of organs.One pattern of interference, commonly called “speckling” (Fig.3-10), is seen in organs with fine, internal histology (i.e., reflectors such as the testis).Absorption occurs when the mechanical energy of the ultrasound waves is converted to heat. Absorption is directly proportional to frequency. The higher the frequency of the incident wave,the greater the absorption of energy, and more tissue heating results.It follows that higher frequency waves are more rapidly attenuatedand have a limited depth of penetration (Fig. 3-11).ArtifactsThe interaction of ultrasound waves with tissues may produceimages that do not reflect the true underlying anatomy. These misrepresentations are called “artifacts.” Artifacts may be misleadingbut, if recognized, may also assist diagnosis. Acoustical shadowing occurs when there is ignificant attenuation or reflection of sound waves at a tissue interface. Echo information posterior to the interface may be obscured or lost. An anechoic or hypoechoic “shadow”is produced. Under these conditions, three-dimensional (3D) objects such as stones may appear as crescentic objects, making it difficult to obtain accurate measurements (Fig. 3-12). Importantpathology posterior to such an interface may be missed. This problem may often be overcome or mitigated by changing the angle of insonation, changing the frequency of the transducer, or chang-ing the focal zone of the transducer.