58180 - Radiographic and Tomographic Standard Veterinary Anatomy

Learning outcomes

Goal of the course is to provide the basic information related to the principal techniques of diagnostic imaging in small and large animals. Besides the necessary information concerning the theoretical aspects of radiology, computed tomography (CT) and ultrasound (US), the course has the objective to make the students able to distinguish the normal patterns of the different anatomic regions when represented under different techniques of imaging.

Course contents

The course is divided in two parts: the first part (more or less one third of the frontal lectures) is dedicated to the study of the basic theoretical principles of radiology and ultrasound. In details, these lectures have the goal to describe and discuss the generation of X-ray, the characteristics of the X-ray, the mechanisms of formation of the image, the structure of a radiographic instrument and of the development processes, the aspects related to radioprotection, the generation of ultrasounds and their interaction with the matter, the instrument for US examination, the most common artefacts in these techniques.The second part (more or less two third of the frontal lectures) is dedicated to the explanation, description and discussion of the normal appearance of the body systems in the different imaging techniques. These lectures are more practical and include the evaluation of plenty of images related to the different topics. Topics are:
- Radiographic anatomy of the skeletal system, the abdomen and the thorax;
- Ultrasonographic anatomy of the abdomen.
Besides the frontal lectures, students have the possibility to do a supervised work in small groups (no more than 6-7 students each group) with a tutor. This work consists of examining radiograms, ultrasound videos and Ct scan images of normal part of the body of small and large animals. Tasks are the description of the characteristics of each part depicted, discussion related to the comparison of imaging with the normal anatomy, recognition of normal details in the whole picture (radiogram, CT image, US image). Practical work consists of contribution in doing an x-ray and US exam in an healthy animal, in order to have better understanding of the practical aspects of these techniques

Readings/Bibliography

Barone R., Anatomia Comparata dei Mammiferi domestici, Edagricole, Bologna: voll. I, II, III, IV, V.

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

D.E. Thrall Textbook of Veterinary Diagnostic Radiology - 7th Edition, Saunders Philadelphia , 2018.

Penninck D e d'Anjou MA, Atlas of small animal ultrasonography - 3nd Edition, Blackwell Science, Ames Iowa USA 2025

Appunti e presentazioni powerpoint di lezione

Teaching methods

The course is made of frontal (thoretical) and practical/interactive lectures.
Frontal lectures are dedicated to the explanation of the most theoretical parts of the course (for example: the modalities of production of X-rays or teh modalities of teh formation of the ultrasound images)and to the description of the images related to the different part of the body acquired with the different techniques.
The practical lectures are held after the students are divided in small groups.
Each group stays in front of a a computer and is asked to recognize and describethe different images proposed. Interaction between students and with the tutor is strongly encouraged.
Aim of this part of the course is to reinforce the ability in the interpretation of the radio-tomographic and ulstrasound images.

Assessment methods

The exam consists of a written test divided into two parts:

1) Multiple-choice questions covering topics related to the entire program

2) Reading and interpretation of radiographic and ultrasound images through the presentation of normal images where the student must identify the different anatomical structures on the image.

Teaching tools

Frontal lectures are held in a lecture room provided with videoprojection and computer. During this kind of lectures videos and pictures are largely used.
Practical lectures are held in a computed room in which each couple of students has a computer connected with the computer of the teacher. This room is used for interactive practical lectures.

Students are also given the opportunity to access, using their institutional credentials, an online platform (https://www.imaios.com/it/vet-anatomy) for veterinary anatomy integrated with diagnostic imaging.

Office hours

See the website of Alessia Diana