Academic Catalog

DMS 50A: DIAGNOSTIC MEDICAL SONOGRAPHY PRINCIPLES & PROTOCOLS

Foothill College Course Outline of Record

Foothill College Course Outline of Record
Heading Value
Effective Term: Summer 2025
Units: 4
Hours: 4 lecture, 1 laboratory per week (60 total per quarter)
Prerequisite: BIOL 40A, 40B and 40C.
Corequisite: DMS 50B, 60A and 72A.
Degree & Credit Status: Degree-Applicable Credit Course
Foothill GE: Non-GE
Transferable: CSU
Grade Type: Letter Grade Only
Repeatability: Not Repeatable

Student Learning Outcomes

  • Recognize normal and abnormal anatomical structures.
  • Apply fundamental skills in the technique and diagnostic interpretation.

Description

A comprehensive course covering the fundamentals of sonographic principles and protocols. Content includes description and acquisition of the major abdominal organs and vasculature, female reproductive system, and obstetric applications. In addition, sonographic terminology, image optimization, orientation, and descriptions of normal versus abnormal structures. Intended for students in the Diagnostic Medical Sonography Program; enrollment is limited to students accepted in the program.

Course Objectives

The student will be able to:

  1. Describe the legal and ethical responsibilities of a sonographer
  2. Explain the fundamentals of ultrasound physical principles and sonographic terminology
  3. Perform the task of image optimization
  4. Identify the anatomy and physiology of the major abdominal organs and vasculature, female reproductive system, and obstetrical applications
  5. Compare normal versus abnormal anatomical structures
  6. Describe lab tests and clinical symptoms related to normal and abnormal findings
  7. Discuss ethical dilemmas for health care professionals when delivering patient centered care

Course Content

  1. Legal and ethical responsibilities of a sonographer
    1. Approach to culturally competent patient-centered care
    2. Patient confidentiality and HIPAA
    3. Obtaining medical history
    4. Reviewing patient chart and physician orders
    5. Correlation of lab tests and previous diagnostic exams
    6. Communicating ultrasound scan protocol to the patient
  2. Fundamentals of ultrasound physical principles and sonographic terminology
    1. Wave propogation
    2. Ultrasound artifacts
    3. Doppler applications
  3. Image optimization
    1. Ultrasound equipment controls/knobology
    2. Assessment of image quality
  4. Abdominal vascular system
    1. Aorta, IVC, and portal-venous system in multiple planes and projections
    2. Physiology of the abdominal vascular system
    3. Diagnostic sonographic images per the exam protocol
    4. Normal anatomy versus abnormal anatomy
  5. Abdominal organs
    1. Liver, biliary, pancreas, spleen, and renal anatomy in multiple planes and projections
    2. Physiology of the abdominal structures
    3. Acquisition of diagnostic sonographic images per the exam protocol
    4. Normal anatomy versus abnormal anatomy
  6. Female reproductive system
    1. Gynecological anatomy in multiple planes and projections
    2. Physiology of the female reproductive system
    3. Acquisition of diagnostic sonographic images per the exam protocol
    4. Normal anatomy versus abnormal anatomy
  7. Obstetrical applications
    1. Maternal and fetal anatomy in multiple planes and projections
    2. Physiology of the maternal and fetal systems
    3. Acquisition of diagnostic sonographic images per the exam protocol
    4. Normal anatomy versus abnormal anatomy

Lab Content

  1. Assessments
  2. Case analysis

Special Facilities and/or Equipment

DVD/TV-monitor, view boxes, medical sonography equipment.

Method(s) of Evaluation

Methods of Evaluation may include but are not limited to the following:

Demonstration of mastery of material by written quizzes and final exam
Essay exams
Assessments
Research

Method(s) of Instruction

Methods of Instruction may include but are not limited to the following:

Lecture presentations
Classroom discussions
Cooperative/interactive activities
Content reinforcement

Representative Text(s) and Other Materials

Curry, R., and B. Tempkin. Sonography: Introduction to Normal Structure and Function. 2021.

Curry, R., and B. Tempkin. Sonography: Introduction to Normal Structure and Function Workbook and Lab Manual. 2021.

Netter, F.. Atlas of Human Anatomy. 2023.

Types and/or Examples of Required Reading, Writing, and Outside of Class Assignments

  1. Reading materials from texts and website research on patient anatomy and pathology. Estimated pages to read per week is 50.
  2. Critical analysis of patient examinations and sonographic findings.
  3. Review of relevant published data as related to sonographic evidence of pathology and/or variants.

Discipline(s)

Diagnostic Medical Technology