B8411 - Imaging and Basic Principles of Semiology of the Digestive Tract

Learning outcomes

By the end of the course, the student gains the knowledge, skills, and competencies needed to understand the diagnostic imaging features of normal digestive system anatomical structures. In particular, the student: knows the normal aspects of clinical relevance relating to the digestive tract; knows how to perform a radiographic study of the abdomen; knows the radiographic features of the different gastrointestinal segments before after the administration of contrast medium in a healthy subject; knows the ultrasonographic features of the different gastrointestinal segments in a healthy subject; is able to recognise the different gastrointestinal segments before after the administration of contrast medium on an abdominal x-ray in a healthy subject; is able to recognise the different gastrointestinal segments on ultrasound examination in a healthy subject; is able to recognise normal aspects of clinical relevance relating to the digestive tract.

Course contents

This Course is part of the Integrated Course "Nutrients, Digestion, and Metabolism".

The integrated course "Nutrients, digestion, and metabolism" aims to provide the student with adequate knowledge of the anatomical organization, function, and biochemical mechanisms underlying the metabolism of the digestive system, essential for recognizing normal clinical aspects in veterinary species. Additionally, the student is familiar with the basic principles of nutrition and feeding in veterinary species.

The Integrated Course "Nutrients, Digestion, and Metabolism" contributes to the achievement of the following ESEVT Day One Competences: 1.1, 1.5, 1.9, 1.10, 1.11, 1.17, 1.21, 1.22, 1.24.

Specific Course contents:

Prerequisites: the student should have knowledge of normal digestive system anatomy.

The content of the course includes:

• Radiographic anatomy of the digestive system: esophagus, stomach, intestine;
• Contrast radiographic studies of the normal digestive system;
• Ultrasonographic c anatomy of the digestive system;
• Main principles of semiology of the digestive tract.

Readings/Bibliography

The teaching materials include the recommended textbooks (see below), along with lecture notes and PowerPoint presentations available on the course website.

• D.E. Thrall, Robertson ID. Atlas of Normal Radiographic Anatomy and Anatomic Variants in the Dog and Cat, 3th Edition, Elsevier , 2023.

• Coulson A., Lewis N. An atlas of interpretative radiographic anatomy of the dog and cat – 2nd Edition, Blackwell Science, Oxford, 2008;

• Penninck D e d'Anjou MA, Atlas of small animal ultrasonography - 2nd Edition, Blackwell Science, Ames Iowa USA 2015

• Lecture slides

The course has a clinical practical orientation. For this reason, much information can be obtained by the slides, the video and photographic material available on the "Portale Didattico Veterinario" of Bologna

Teaching methods

The course combines frontal lectures and practical small-group sessions.

Lectures cover:

• radiographic and ultrasonographic anatomy of the digestive tract;

• contrast radiographic protocols and interpretation;
• clinical relevance of imaging findings in healthy animals;

• integration of normal physical examination findings with imaging.

Practical sessions:

Students work in small groups at PC workstations to analyze radiographic and ultrasonographic images of the digestive system, with and without contrast medium.

These sessions aim to develop competence in identifying anatomical structures and understanding their normal imaging appearance, and to relate these to clinical scenarios.

Assessment methods

The final exam of the Integrated Course "Nutrients, Digestion, and Metabolism" consists of two parts.

• The first part is a written test comprising 60 multiple choice questions, covering topics from all components of the Integrated Course, and is designed to assess the student's comprehensive knowledge of the subject matter.

  Each correct question will earn 0.5 points; no points will be subtracted in case of wrong answer or unanswered question. The use of supporting material or devices such as calculators, books, notebooks, class notes, etc. is not authorized during the test. If needed, a follow-up discussion will allow the Candidate to comment on the wrong answers.

  The test assignment will last 1.5h and will be considered as successful with a minimum grade of 18/30.

• The second part is a practical examination held in the Clinical Skills Lab or at the Veterinary Teaching Hospital, including the execution of manual procedures of the physical examination and the description and interpretation of images or videos related to the different imaging techniques, allowing the evaluation of the acquisition of practical and verbal competences. To pass the practical examination, the student must demonstrate sufficient competences, obtaining a minimum grade of 18/30.

The final grade for the Integrated Course is calculated as the weighted average of the written test (60%) and the practical assessment (40%). Students can register for the exam through the online AlmaEsami platform (http://almaesami.unibo.it/ ). In case of failure, the exam may be retaken after a minimum of three weeks. In accordance with Unibo teaching regulations, Article 16, Paragraph 5, students are entitled to refuse a passing grade on one occasion.

In compliance with Law 104/1992 and Law 170/2010, and in alignment with institutional inclusion policies, students with certified disabilities or specific learning disorders—as well as those with recognized special educational needs—will receive appropriate accommodations during assessments. Such students should promptly contact the course instructor and inform the University’s Disability and SLD Support Service [https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/en] . A faculty member is appointed to oversee this service within the Department [https://scienzemedicheveterinarie.unibo.it/it/dipartimento/organizzazione/referenti-istituzionali] .

Teaching tools

The Course utilizes high-resolution images and video tutorials of physical examination procedures and diagnostic imaging findings of Digestive Tract. Academic lessons use Powerpoint presentations. The material, showed during the academic lessons, is available on Portale Didattico Veterinario (http://www.portaledidatticovet.org/metodologia-clinica.html ) and on the Virtuale platform (reached through the link on the teacher webpage). To further support anatomical recognition and imaging interpretation, students are encouraged to consult IMAIOS Vet-Anatomy online platform, an interactive anatomical atlas that supports the identification of cross-sectional and radiographic anatomy in veterinary species (https://www.imaios.com/en/vet-anatomy ).

Office hours

See the website of Francesca Del Baldo