What effect does increasing the frequency of ultrasound waves have on penetration depth?

Increasing the frequency of ultrasound waves leads to a decrease in penetration depth. This occurs because higher frequency waves have shorter wavelengths, which results in greater attenuation as they pass through tissues. Attenuation is the reduction of the amplitude and intensity of the ultrasound waves due to scattering and absorption by the tissues. As the frequency increases, the amount of scattering and absorption in the tissues also tends to increase, causing the ultrasound waves to lose their energy more rapidly. Therefore, while higher frequencies provide better resolution and detail in imaging, they do not penetrate as deeply into the body compared to lower frequencies. This principle is fundamental in determining the appropriate frequency for various imaging applications based on the depth of the structures of interest.