Final answer:
Ultrasounds are a type of technology that utilizes sound waves to create images of soft tissues within the body, commonly used in monitoring pregnancies and diagnosing other conditions non-invasively.
Step-by-step explanation:
Technologies that utilize sound waves to view soft tissues in the body are known as ultrasounds. Ultrasound technology is based on the transmission of high-frequency sound waves that echo off body structures. The echoes are converted by a computer into a real-time image, which can be interpreted to assess and diagnose various conditions. Ultrasonography is widely used for monitoring pregnancies, as it is non-invasive and safe, without the use of electromagnetic radiation. In comparison, other imaging techniques such as X-rays, Computed Tomography (CT), and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) use different methods to create images of the body's internal structures.