To provide an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus in which one of an imaging method with advantageous time resolution and an imaging method with advantageous spatial resolution can be selectively used according to an imaging object.

This ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus includes: a control section for setting one of a first imaging mode and a second imaging mode; a transmission control unit for controlling a drive signal generating unit to scan the object while shifting a center position of a group of ultrasonic transducers, which simultaneously transmit ultrasonic waves, by a distance not larger than an interval between elements in a first imaging mode and for controlling the drive signal generating unit to scan the object while shifting a center position of a group of ultrasonic transducers, which simultaneously transmit ultrasonic waves, by a distance not less than twice the interval between the elements in a second imaging mode; and an image generating unit for generating an image signal at a first frame rate in the first imaging mode and generating an image signal at a second frame rate higher than the first frame rate in the second imaging mode.