This Doppler waveform scenario indicates which statement is true: the direction of flow is toward the beam.

• A. The direction of flow is toward the beam
• B. The Doppler shift is negative
• C. The flow is Antegrade
• D. The system has malfunctioned

Answer: (A)

The main idea being tested is how Doppler shift relates to the direction of flow relative to the ultrasound beam. When the moving blood cells approach the transducer, the frequency shift is positive; when they move away, the shift is negative. So, a waveform that indicates flow toward the beam points to a positive Doppler shift and means the blood is moving toward the probe.

That’s why the statement about the direction of flow being toward the beam is the best answer. It directly ties the observed Doppler sign to the actual direction of motion. The other options don’t fit as precisely: a negative shift would mean flow away from the beam, calling the statement into question; the term antegrade describes forward flow in the circulation but does not specify direction relative to the beam; and a system malfunction isn’t implied by a normal, directional Doppler pattern.