At higher frequencies, ultrasound penetration tends to be shallower due to greater absorption. True or False?

• A. Not enough information
• B. Depends on tissue type
• C. True
• D. False

Answer: (C)

Higher ultrasound frequencies are absorbed and scattered more as they travel through tissue, so the beam loses energy faster and its penetration depth is reduced. The attenuation coefficient increases with frequency, which means deeper tissues receive less energy at higher frequencies. This is why higher frequencies give better near-surface resolution but shallower penetration, while lower frequencies penetrate deeper with less detail. Though tissue properties can modulate exact values, the overall trend that penetration decreases as frequency increases is true.