Ergonomics + Introduction Flashcards
What decade was the earliest application of ultrasound to medical diagnosis?
1940s
What is the anatomic position?
Standing erect, feet together, arms by the sides with the palms and face directed forward
What are the three anatomic planes? Describe them.
Sagittal - splits the body into left and right
Coronal - splits the body into anterior/posterior
Transverse - splits the body into superior/inferior
What does contralateral mean?
Located on the opposite side of the body/affecting the opposite side of the body
What is decubitus/recumbent?
The act of lying down
What is the difference between supine/dorsal vs. prone/ventral?
Supine/dorsal is when you’re lying on your back
Prone/ventral is lying on your stomach/face down
What are the nine regions of the abdomen?
Right hypochondriac | Epigastric | Left hypochondriac
Right lumbar | Umbilical | Left lumbar
Right inguinal | Hypogastric | Left inguinal
What is an echo?
A recorded acoustic signal from the reflection of the sound wave
What is echogenic?
Describes relative tissue texture as being more bright
What is anechoic/sonolucent?
Echo-free and easy passage of sound. Completely black
What is hyperechoic?
Echoes brighter than surrounding tissues or brighter than normal
What is hypoechoic?
Echoes less bright than surrounding tissues or less bright than normal
What is echopenic?
Less echogenic structures than others, or has few internal echoes
What is isoechoic?
Structures equal in echo density
What is the difference of homogenous vs heterogenous texture?
Homogenous together is echoes imaged of equal intensity, while heterogenous has several different echo characteristics.
Describe the sonographic features of a cystic structure.
- anechoic center
- well defined with sharply defined posterior wall
- acoustic enhancement
- possible reverberation artifacts if close to transducer
- edge shadowing may appear, depends on the angle
Describe the sonographic features of a solid structure.
- Internal echoes increase with an increase in instrument gain settings
- Irregular often poorly defined walls and margins
- Low-amplitude echoes or shadowing posterior to the mass due to increased acoustic attenuation by soft tissue or calculi
- Homogenous or heterogenous
- May be hyperechoic, hypoechoic, echopenic, or anechoic echo texture
Describe the sonographic features of a complex structure.
- typically both anechoic and echogenic areas from both cystic and solid tissues
What is the 20-20-20 rule?
Refocus your eyes every 20 mins on an object aprox. 20 feet from you for aprox. 20 secs.
What angle should your elbow be within at all times while scanning?
30 degrees.
When was the Occupational Safety and Health Act passed?
1970
What is WRMSD?
Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorder
What are the types of WRSMD that sonographers deal with?
Tendonitis/tenosynovitis: Inflammation of the tendon and the sheath around the tendon
de Quervain disease: A specific type of tendonitis of the thumb that results from gripping the transducer
Carpal Tunnel: Entrapment of the median nerve as it runs through the carpal bones of the wrist
Cubital tunnel: Entrapment of the ulnar nerve as it runs through the elbow.
Epicondylitis (lateral and medial): Inflammation of the periosteum in the area of insertion of the bicep tendon into the distal humerus.
Thoracic outlet syndrome: Nerve entrapment that can occur at different levels
Trigger Finger: Inflammation and swelling of the tendon sheath in a finger that entraps the tendon and restricts motion of the finger
Bursitis: Inflammation of the shoulder bursa from repeated motion
Spinal Degeneration: Intervertebral disk degeneration that results from bending and twisting and improper seating
Rotator Cuff Injury: Repeated motion causes fraying of the rotator cuff muscle tendons.
What is the most common WRMSD for sonographers?
Rotator cuff injury
