Final answer:
The high-frequency sound waves are used in sonography or ultrasonography, enabling non-invasive medical diagnoses, including fetal monitoring and heart function assessment through echocardiograms.
Step-by-step explanation:
The diagnostic procedure that uses high-frequency sound waves is sonography. Sonography, often known as ultrasonography, generates an echo signal that is transformed into a real-time image of the body's anatomy and physiology. This technique enables non-invasive medical diagnoses such as monitoring fetal development in the womb and assessing heart function through an echocardiogram. Unlike other more invasive procedures, sonography allows for sensitive examinations, for instance, during pregnancy, without using electromagnetic radiation, making it one of the least invasive imaging techniques.
An echocardiogram, also known as an "echo," is a specific type of sonogram of the heart that can help diagnose valve disorders and various heart pathologies.
It's essential to note that while sonography is widely used and beneficial, its effectiveness can be limited as the image quality is operator-dependent, and it cannot penetrate bone or gas.