Ultrasound Scanning in Pregnancy: Technique

Ultrasound scanning in pregnancy is used to detect the fetal heartbeat and obtain other information. A technician applies a conductive gel to a woman's abdomen and scans the abdomen with a transducer. The transducer emits sound waves, allowing the woman's internal structures, including the fetus, to be seen on a video monitor.

(Video from Center for Biomedical Communications, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University.)