What characteristic does spatial resolution improve with?

Spatial resolution refers to the ability of an imaging system to distinguish two separate points as distinct entities. It is fundamentally influenced by how fine the details can be presented in the image. Higher line density improves spatial resolution because it refers to the number of scan lines per unit area in an ultrasound image.

Increasing the line density allows for more detailed and closely spaced images to be captured. This leads to enhanced clarity and definition of the tissues being imaged, which is critical for accurately assessing structures and identifying potential abnormalities. Essentially, with a higher line density, more information is captured in a given area of the patient, thereby improving the spatial resolution and the overall diagnostic quality of the ultrasound images.

In contrast, while higher frame rates and bandwidth can affect temporal resolution and signal quality, respectively, they do not directly improve how well distinct points can be resolved spatially. Similarly, lower noise levels contribute to better image quality but do not specifically address the capability to resolve fine details at close proximity. Therefore, higher line density is the characteristic that directly correlates with improved spatial resolution in ultrasound imaging.