DMST 202: Ultrasound Scanning Fundamentals - Great Vessels (Vocabulary Flashcards)

Vocabulary flashcards covering key anatomical structures, sonographic appearances, landmarks, and equipment terms from the Great Vessels content.

Abdominal aorta

The major midline abdominal artery that runs anterior to the vertebral column; on ultrasound it appears as a tubular, anechoic lumen with bright vessel walls; proximal segment is more posterior and distal segment more anterior; tapers from cranial to caudal.

Aortic anteroposterior diameter

The front-to-back measurement of the abdominal aorta; normal AP diameter is ≤ 3 cm, measured at the distal end near the spine.

Anechoic lumen

Lumen that appears dark on ultrasound due to absence of internal echoes, as seen in vessels like the aorta and IVC.

Non-compressible

A property of the abdominal aorta where the lumen does not collapse under gentle probe pressure.

Pulsatile abdominal mass

An indication for an aortic sonogram suggesting aneurysm or vascular abnormality.

Inferior vena cava (IVC)

A large abdominal vein located just to the right of midline, anterior to the spine; tubular with thin walls; lumen anechoic and compressible; diameter and visibility affected by respiration.

IVC compressibility

The IVC lumen can be compressed with gentle pressure and changes in caliber with respiration.

Common iliac vessels (CIA)

Vessels that bifurcate from the aorta to form the left and right common iliac arteries; appear as anechoic circles just anterior to the spine in transverse views.

Aortic bifurcation (AO BIF)

The point where the abdominal aorta divides into the common iliac arteries.

Vertebral body

A bony spinal segment used as a landmark in transverse abdominal imaging to orient the aorta and vessels.

Xiphoid process (xiphisternum)

Lower part of the sternum; a landmark for the xiphisternal window used in AO/IVC scanning.

Umbilicus

Navel; boundary marker used when outlining scanning windows from the xiphoid area to the umbilicus.

Celiac trunk

First major visceral branch of the abdominal aorta; identified on transverse AO scans; gives rise to hepatic, splenic, and left gastric arteries.

Superior mesenteric artery (SMA)

Major visceral artery branching from the aorta, located inferior to the celiac trunk; identified during AO scanning.

Sagittal plane

Vertical anatomical plane that divides the body into left and right portions; used for longitudinal views of the AO and IVC.

Transverse plane

Horizontal anatomical plane that divides the body into upper and lower parts; used for cross-sectional views; shows anatomy along the true axis in AO imaging.

Gas obscuration

Gas within the abdomen can obscure distal anatomy (e.g., distal IVC) during ultrasound imaging.

Time Gain Compensation (TGC)

Ultrasound control that adjusts signal gain at different depths to optimize image brightness and penetration.

5 MHz curvilinear transducer

A curved-array ultrasound probe operating around 5 MHz, commonly used for abdominal imaging due to a wide field of view.

Depth

Imaging depth setting; adjusts how deep the ultrasound penetrates to keep the region of interest on screen.

Focus

The depth at which the ultrasound beam is tuned to optimize spatial resolution in the region of interest.

Gain

Overall image brightness control; adjusted to achieve optimal visualization of vessels and anatomy.