Archives: Glossary

Compression of a peripheral nerve within an anatomic tunnel, evaluated on ultrasound by increased nerve cross-sectional area.

A group of four muscles and tendons stabilizing the shoulder joint — the supraspinatus is the most commonly torn and evaluated on ultrasound.

An artifact in musculoskeletal ultrasound where a tendon appears falsely hypoechoic when the beam is not perpendicular to its fibers.

A fibrous connective tissue structure that attaches muscle to bone, appearing as a fibrillar hyperechoic band on ultrasound.

Ultrasound imaging of tendons, muscles, ligaments, nerves, and joints for diagnosis of soft tissue injuries and guidance of injections.

Fluid in the pleural space between the lung and chest wall, appearing as an anechoic or echogenic collection on thoracic ultrasound.

Vertical artifacts on lung ultrasound extending to the bottom of the screen, indicating interstitial fluid or pulmonary edema when present in large numbers.

Ultrasound assessment of the lungs and pleura, used to detect pneumothorax, pleural effusion, and pulmonary edema.

Focused Assessment with Sonography for Trauma — a rapid bedside ultrasound protocol to detect free fluid and pericardial effusion in trauma patients.

Ultrasound performed and interpreted at the bedside by the treating clinician to answer a focused clinical question in real time.