An ultrasound scanning system particularly adapted for imaging skeletal structure, such as the spinal column. An ultrasound scanning head for generating ultrasound waves and for receiving reflected ultrasound signals is mounted on a transporter for moving it linearily along the spine between a cervical reference point and a sacral reference point. A position transducer monitors the position of the transducer along the spine and a counter measures the time between the ultrasound pulse and its echo to determine the distance from the transducer face to the tissue interface responsible for generating the echo. The distance and range data is smoothed and analyzed in a digital computer using algorithms that distinguish between the echoes received from bone and other tissue such as lung tissue. The bone data is further processed via computer to produce a visual representation of the spine and rib structure sufficient for the diagnosis of spinal misalignment characteristic of scoliosis.