Interaction of the sound wave with microscopic gas bubbles found in tissues is called?

• A. Cavitation
• B. Refraction
• C. Diffraction
• D. Attenuation

Answer: (A)

Cavitation is the interaction of sound waves with microscopic gas bubbles in tissues. When ultrasound waves pass through, the alternating pressure causes these bubbles to oscillate—expanding and contracting with the sound field. If the pressures are high enough, the bubbles can violently collapse, a process called inertial cavitation. This bubble dynamics is distinct from other wave phenomena: refraction is the bending of waves at interfaces due to speed changes, diffraction is spreading around obstacles or through openings, and attenuation is the loss of energy as the wave travels through tissue. The key feature here is that gas-filled bubbles respond to the acoustic field, producing cavitation effects.