What is the primary use of ultrasound in medical practice?

Ultrasound is primarily used to visualize internal structures within the body by employing high-frequency sound waves. This imaging technique allows healthcare practitioners to see organs, tissues, and blood flow without the need for invasive procedures or harmful radiation, making it a safe and effective diagnostic tool.

In medical practice, ultrasound can help in various applications, such as monitoring fetal development during pregnancy, diagnosing conditions related to the heart, kidneys, and liver, or guiding procedures like biopsies. By converting sound wave reflections into images, ultrasound provides real-time visuals that assist in assessing and diagnosing medical issues, making it a widely relied-upon method in diagnostics.

The other options, while relevant to different aspects of medical practice, do not accurately represent the primary function of ultrasound. For instance, delivering medications typically involves other techniques or devices, measuring blood pressure is usually done with a sphygmomanometer, and providing radiation therapy involves the use of high-energy radiation, which is unrelated to ultrasound’s methodology.