Which potential bioeffect occurs through absorption of sound energy by tissue?

Which potential bioeffect occurs through absorption of sound energy by tissue?

• A. Cavitation
• B. Heating
• C. Attenuation
• D. Reflection

Answer: (B)

Absorbing sound energy by tissue causes heating. When acoustic energy is absorbed, it is transformed into heat through molecular friction and viscous losses in the tissue. This temperature rise—the thermal bioeffect—depends on how long and how intense the exposure is and on the tissue’s absorption properties. Cavitation involves gas bubble dynamics under pressure, not just absorption. Attenuation describes the overall loss of sound intensity as it travels (from absorption, scattering, and reflections), so it’s a propagation effect rather than the direct bioeffect of absorption. Reflection is energy bouncing at interfaces, not a heating effect from absorption. So heating is the bioeffect produced by absorption of sound energy.

Absorbing sound energy by tissue causes heating. When acoustic energy is absorbed, it is transformed into heat through molecular friction and viscous losses in the tissue. This temperature rise—the thermal bioeffect—depends on how long and how intense the exposure is and on the tissue’s absorption properties. Cavitation involves gas bubble dynamics under pressure, not just absorption. Attenuation describes the overall loss of sound intensity as it travels (from absorption, scattering, and reflections), so it’s a propagation effect rather than the direct bioeffect of absorption. Reflection is energy bouncing at interfaces, not a heating effect from absorption. So heating is the bioeffect produced by absorption of sound energy.