Course Description

The course introduces sonographic terminology, reference planes, basic anatomy and normal sectional anatomy of the abdominal, retroperitoneal and pelvic cavities. Emphasis is placed on sonographic appearance and the relationship between organs, vessels, ligaments, and muscles. Students will be able to identify and use sonographic terminology to describe normal vessels, organs, ligaments, muscles of the abdomen and pelvis on sonographic images. Students will also be introduced to scanning protocols.

Course Outcomes

In this course you will learn how to:

·         Identify and describe the normal sonographic appearance of abdominal organs and vessels in sagittal, transverse, and coronal scanning planes on images. 

o   arteries – aorta celiac axis, SMA, splenic artery, hepatic, renal, common iliac, internal &                   external iliac

o   veins – IVC, hepatic, SMV, IMV, portal, renal, common iliac, internal, and external iliac

o   biliary system             

o   liver                

o   pancreas

o    spleen                         

o   kidneys

o   bladder             

o   adrenal glands      

o   diaphragm

·         Identify the nine regions and four quadrants of the abdominal/pelvic cavity and list the  organs in each region and quadrant.

·         Describe the relationship of the parietal peritoneum, visceral peritoneum, and peritoneal cavity to the organs and vessels in the abdominal cavity.

·         Describe and identify ligaments, fissures, and vessels on sonographic images; and how to divide the liver into segments.

·         Describe the location and sonographic appearance of the portal and hepatic venous          

            structures, and be able to differentiate between them.

·         Identify and describe the relationship between adjacent abdominal organs and vessels.  

·         Describe the relationship of the portal vein to the caudate lobe.

·         Describe the spatial relationship of the portal vein, hepatic artery, hepatic ducts, and CBD.

·         Describe the relationship of the crus of the diaphragm to the aorta, IVC and adrenal glands.

·         Describe the cross-sectional relationship of the gall bladder and biliary ducts to the liver.

·         Describe the cross-sectional relationship of the kidney, IVC and aorta to the left and right adrenal glands.

·         Describe the course of the splenic artery and vein, and its relationship to the pancreas.

·         Describe the cross-sectional anatomy of the pancreas and adjacent structures and vessels.

·         Describe the course of the pancreatic ducts and the spatial relationship to the adjacent anatomy.

·         Describe the relationship of the gastroduodenal artery and common bile duct to the head of the pancreas.

·         List structures that lie adjacent to the spleen and how they are used sonographically to locate the spleen.

·         Describe the internal anatomy of the kidney.

·         Describe the internal and surface anatomy of the adrenal gland by indicating size, position, and cross-sectional anatomical relationships.

·         List and be able to locate the anatomical and sonographic landmarks used to locate   abdominal structures and pelvic anatomy.

·         Identify and describe normal female pelvic anatomy, anatomic variants, and sonographic appearances of the

o   Pelvic muscles 

o   Pelvic vasculature 

o   Peritoneal spaces 

o   Reproductive organs 

o   Suspensory ligaments