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The relationship between frequency and penetration in ultrasound is a fundamental concept in sonography. In medical ultrasound, higher frequencies yield better image resolution due to the shorter wavelength they produce. This improved resolution is particularly advantageous when visualizing superficial structures or small details within the body. However, higher frequencies do not penetrate tissue as effectively as lower frequencies.

Lower frequency sound waves, while offering poorer resolution, have the capacity to penetrate deeper into the body, making them more suitable for imaging deeper organs or structures. This trade-off is essential for sonographers to understand, as the choice of frequency is dictated by the specific diagnostic needs, balancing the requirement for detail against the need for depth of penetration.

Thus, the assertion that higher frequency provides better resolution but less penetration accurately captures the essence of this trade-off and is indeed the correct understanding of the relationship between frequency and penetration in ultrasound imaging.