____ improves lateral resolution by concentrating the sound energy into a narrower beam.

____ improves lateral resolution by concentrating the sound energy into a narrower beam.

• A. Attenuation
• B. Focusing
• C. Scanning
• D. Filtering

Answer: (B)

Lateral resolution is improved when the beam is narrower, because two nearby reflectors are more easily distinguished when energy is confined to a smaller area as it returns from tissues. Focusing achieves that by concentrating the emitted sound energy into a tighter beam. This can be done with a curved lens for fixed focusing or with electronic delays in an array for dynamic focusing, narrowing the beam at a specific depth and thus enhancing lateral detail where it matters most. Attenuation describes energy loss as sound travels deeper, not beam width. Scanning refers to moving the beam across the area to build an image, and filtering is about processing echoes to reduce noise, not shaping the beam.

Lateral resolution is improved when the beam is narrower, because two nearby reflectors are more easily distinguished when energy is confined to a smaller area as it returns from tissues. Focusing achieves that by concentrating the emitted sound energy into a tighter beam. This can be done with a curved lens for fixed focusing or with electronic delays in an array for dynamic focusing, narrowing the beam at a specific depth and thus enhancing lateral detail where it matters most. Attenuation describes energy loss as sound travels deeper, not beam width. Scanning refers to moving the beam across the area to build an image, and filtering is about processing echoes to reduce noise, not shaping the beam.