Ultrasound is used in all areas of general surgery and many surgical subspecialties. The surgeon with ultrasound skills brings a number of advantages to clinical practice, including the ability to view dynamic images that are far superior to the interpretation of static ultrasound images. However, to obtain optimal ultrasound images, the surgeon sonographer must know the equipment well. This article provides an overview of the various types of ultrasound instrumentation, their settings, their care, and their uses ina variety of clinical situations.