1) Describe normal body structures using the appropriate sonographic terms. Anechoic: without internal echoes. Black. Fluid-filled Hypoechoic: darker than surrounding structures Hyperechoic: brighter than surrounding structures Isoechoic: the same amplification as surrounding tissue Homozygous: smooth in texture Heterozygous: uneven in texture

2) Recognize different patient positions during a study to evaluate various structures. Supine RLD LLD Prone

3) Describe appropriate use of gain to optimize a sonographic image. If the gain is set too high, artifactual low level “echo noise” will be displayed throughout the image. Fluid or normal vascular structures should be anechoic (without echoes); if the gain is set too high, low level artifactual echoes will be noted in these structures.

4) Know what increases the acoustic exposure to the patient. The acoustic exposure to the patient is not changed when the receiver gain is increased. Increasing output power may increase acoustic exposure to the patient

5) Differentiate echo textures of two given anatomy. Homozygous: smooth in texture Heterozygous: uneven in texture

6) Label in order of echogenicity: renal, liver, spleen, and pancreas. Pancreas, Spleen, Liver, Renal 

7) Know how many scanning planes an area of interest must be documented in. Two