Peer Review

Ultrasound Physics and its Application in Medicine

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Reviewed:: Jul 27, 2026 by Health Sciences

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Ratings

Overall Rating:

Content Quality:

Effectiveness:

Ease of Use:

Overview:

Ultrasound has a wide range of medical applications. Some of these include obstetrics (monitoring the progress of pregnancy), oncology (monitoring the growth of tumors), cardiology (visualizing the heart function and physiology), biopsy (guiding needles in various procedures), and physiotherapy. This OER textbook discusses the application of ultrasound in clinical practice.

Type of Material:

Open (Access) Textbook

Recommended Uses:

• Pre-class reading / flipped classroom preparation

• Primary or supplementary textbook in medical, nursing, or radiography ultrasound modules • Independent self-study for ARDMS SPI examination candidates

• Lecture companion / slide-deck reference for instructors

• Homework and formative assessment using end-of-chapter questions

Technical Requirements:

The material is available in multiple downloadable formats, including EPUB, Digital PDF, Print PDF, Pressbooks XML, and Common Cartridge web links. A standard web browser is required to access the online version. A PDF reader or EPUB reader may be needed depending on the format selected. No specialist software, plug-ins, Java, or Flash are required for general use. Internet access may be needed to access the online textbook, download files, or use the Common Cartridge web links. For best use, learners should have access to a device with a screen large enough to view figures, diagrams, and ultrasound images clearly.
Internet Access
Web Browser

Identify Major Learning Goals:

After active engagement with the material, the learner will be able to:

Describe the basic physical principles of ultrasound, including frequency, wavelength, amplitude, velocity, reflection, refraction, scattering, attenuation and acoustic impedance.
Explain how ultrasound transducers and instrumentation generate, receive and process ultrasound signals.
Interpret the relationship between ultrasound physics and image formation, including 2D, 3D and 4D imaging.
Discuss ultrasound bioeffects, safety considerations and the ALARA principle.
Explain the application of ultrasound in selected clinical areas, including obstetrics, musculoskeletal imaging, echocardiography, pulmonary ultrasound, abdominal ultrasound, vascular sonography and FAST assessment.
Apply key terminology and concepts to clinical examples and imaging scenarios.

Target Student Population:

Undergraduate and graduate medical, nursing, radiography, and sonography students; continuing professional development learners

Prerequisite Knowledge or Skills:

Introductory college-level physics, particularly mechanics, wave physics, and thermodynamics, as well as mathematics including algebra, trigonometry, logarithms, and exponential functions. The book is mathematically demanding in places, with quantitative formulas, equations, and numerical problem-solving throughout. Basic anatomy and physiology help contextualize the clinical chapters. Standard computer or device literacy is assumed for accessing digital formats.

Content Quality

Rating:

Strengths:

This is a scientifically solid and well-structured text. Quantitative claims are consistently backed by peer-reviewed sources, including key primary references, and the diagrams are clearly labeled and logically sequenced.
The glossary is a genuine asset for learners still building their technical vocabulary.
The material is relevant to clinical practice and covers a breadth of clinical application areas that will be meaningful to healthcare students and practitioners alike.
The inclusion of chapters on obstetric, musculoskeletal, cardiac, pulmonary, abdominal, vascular and trauma ultrasound makes the resource broad in scope and clinically meaningful.

Concerns:

A few sections pack in several interacting concepts in quick succession. A summary table or concept map at those points would help learners consolidate before moving on. Minor point overall.
Some sections may be challenging for learners with limited physics or mathematical background, particularly where equations are introduced. Additional worked examples, interactive activities, formative quizzes with answers and feedback, or short case-based exercises could further support student understanding.
The resource is text-heavy in places, and some learners may benefit from more embedded multimedia content, such as short videos or animations demonstrating ultrasound wave behavior, probe use, or image formation to support multimodal learning.

Potential Effectiveness as a Teaching Tool

Rating:

Strengths:

Learning outcomes are listed at the start of each chapter.
The chapter structure is consistent throughout and clearly designed with teaching in mind. The range of clinical chapters means the book can support multiple courses within a program. Individual chapters stand alone well enough to assign as pre-class reading or lecture prep without requiring adoption of the full text.
The combination of theory, diagrams, terminology, clinical examples and self-assessment questions helps students build understanding progressively.
The use of high-quality diagrams and labeled illustrations helps clarify complex anatomical structures and their relationships, making it easier for readers to connect theoretical concepts with real-world applications. These visuals effectively support the written content by breaking down difficult topics into more manageable and visually engaging components. In particular, the clear depiction of anatomy strengthens the reader’s ability to follow explanations of ultrasound imaging and interpretation, reinforcing learning and improving overall comprehension.
The combination of theory, diagrams, terminology, clinical examples and self-assessment questions helps students build understanding progressively.
The resource could be integrated into a range of teaching purposes or activities, including lectures, independent reading, revision tasks, flipped classroom preparation, clinical imaging introductions, or assessment preparation. Its breadth allows instructors to select individual chapters for specific topics, while the full textbook provides a coherent pathway from basic physics to applied clinical imaging.

Concerns:

The learning experience could be strengthened by adding more explicit assessment tools, such as interactive end-of-chapter quizzes with answers, applied clinical scenarios, image interpretation activities, or reflective questions. Some learning objectives are broad, so instructors may need to provide more specific guidance when using the material for a particular course or assessment.
A "key take-away" callout at the end of each chapter would enhance learning.
There are no answer keys or model answers for the self-assessment questions. That matters a lot for independent learners, who currently have no way to check their work. Consider adding answer keys.
Chapter-level prerequisite statements would also help self-directed learners decide whether they're ready to study more advanced sections.

Ease of Use for Both Students and Faculty

Rating:

Strengths:

Long alt text descriptions are included for detailed images. Find the long descriptions by looking in the Table of Contents; they are listed as the very last item.
Sequential headings are set up for screen readers.
Text is selectable.
The book is available in EPUB, two PDF formats, Pressbooks XML, and Common Cartridge, or online with no login or subscription needed. That kind of flexibility matters for students on different devices or in different institutional setups.
The chapter navigational structure, especially in online format, helps readers jump in anywhere and know what to expect by using the Table of Contents.

Concerns:

Adding some interactive elements — embedded quizzes, annotatable figures, or even links to short scanning videos — would make the digital version noticeably more engaging.
Accessibility also needs attention in the PDF formats: alt-text for figures and reading order should be checked against standards to ensure the resource works for all learners. Or the online format can be used and students can be informed of the last item in the Table of Contents, which is the detailed image alt text descriptions.

Other Issues and Comments:

This is a high-quality open educational resource with strong relevance for biomedical science, medical imaging and healthcare education. Its open license supports reuse and adaptation, which is valuable for educators. The availability of multiple download formats, including EPUB, Digital PDF, Print PDF, Pressbooks XML and Common Cartridge web links, further supports flexible use across different teaching and learning contexts.
The resource is particularly strong as a foundational or supplementary textbook. It would be most effective when paired with teaching activities, practical demonstrations, image interpretation exercises or formative quizzes.
Ultrasound plays a significant role across a wide range of clinical fields. The text effectively explores how ultrasound is applied in clinical practice, offering readers a solid understanding of its practical use in modern medicine.

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