What term describes the redirection of sound in many directions?

The term "scattering" accurately describes the redirection of sound in many directions. In the context of ultrasound and sonography, scattering occurs when sound waves encounter small particles or irregularities in the medium through which they are traveling. Instead of traveling in a straight line or being reflected in a single direction, the sound waves are deflected in multiple directions. This phenomenon is particularly significant when the size of the scattering particles is comparable to the wavelength of the ultrasound being used.

Scattering plays a crucial role in imaging because it enhances the visibility of structures by providing different signal contributions from various orientations, thereby improving the overall quality of the ultrasound image. This contrasts with other terms: reflection refers to the bouncing of sound waves off a surface at an angle equal to the angle of incidence, refraction describes the change in direction of sound waves as they pass from one medium to another with varying density, and diffraction involves the bending of waves around obstacles or the spreading of waves when they pass through narrow openings. Each of these phenomena has distinct characteristics and applications in sonography, but scattering is specifically about the redirection of sound in numerous directions, making it the correct term in this context.