There are many different types of sonography careers, and all of them are based in medical settings. Some sonography careers are in hospitals, while others are in clinics, specialty offices and doctors' offices. Sonographers take pictures of various parts of the body. They may look at internal organs, different bodily systems or even babies growing in the uterus. Regardless of the type of career, all sonographers use the same basic equipment. This equipment functions in a certain way to create images of the internal sections of the human body.
The process of sonography is a simple process that uses a great deal of technology. Sonography uses high frequency sound waves to create images of the body. Sometimes a sonography is called an ultrasound. Sonography machines are used to look at organs, blood flow and even as visual tools for other medical procedures. They can also be used as an alternative to x-rays.
Individuals who choose to study and eventually work in one of the different types of sonography careers often choose a special area to focus on. This is the specialty that is focused on for academic and hands on learning. It is also the job that the sonographer usually ends up finding after schooling is complete.
Sonography career specialties are usually in one of the following areas: abdomen, breast, obstetrics, echocardiography, neurosonology, and ophthalmology. Sonographers who specialize in echocardiography work mainly with the heart, and sonographers that focus on neurosonology work with the brain. Students who study ophthalmology sonography go on to jobs that take images of the eyes and eye areas.
Another career path for sonography careers is a diagnostic medical sonographer. This position is also sometimes called a vascular technologist. All of the different types of sonography careers work with medical physicians, but a diagnostic medical sonographer works specifically to create images for medical doctors and surgeons. These pictures are used by the doctor to assist in diagnosing the patient and pinpointing the problem the patient is having that needs medical attention.