B8412 - Imaging of the Musculoskeletal System

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 musculoskeletal and nervous system anatomical structures. In particular, the student: knows how to perform a radiographic study of various skeletal structures, selecting the most appropriate radiographic projection for each specific anatomical segment; is able to recognise bone and joint structures in radiographic and tomographic images of a normal subject; is able to identify normal nervous system structures in advanced imaging techniques (CT and MRI) of a healthy subject.

Course contents

This Course is part of the Integrated Course "Movement, Skin, and Nervous System".

The Integrated Course aims to provide the student with adequate knowledge of the anatomical organization, functioning, and biochemical mechanisms underlying the metabolism of the nervous system, the musculoskeletal system, and the skin and its appendages, essential for recognizing the normal aspects of clinical relevance in veterinary species. Additionally, the student gains expertise in topographical anatomy and imaging techniques applicable to these systems, including their relevance to kinetics and kinematics.

The Integrated Course "Movement, Skin, and Nervous System" 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, 1.24.

Specific Course contents:

Prerequisites: the student should have knowledge of normal musculoskeletal and nervous system anatomy.

The content of the course includes:

• Radiographic anatomy of the skeletal system: skull, spine, forelimb and hindlimb;
• Computed tomography anatomy of the skeletal system: skull, spine, forelimb and hindlimb;
• Computed tomography of the nervous system
• Magnetic resonance of the nervous system

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
• Zwingenberger A., Wisner E., Atlas of Small Animal CT and MRI, John Wiley and Sons Ltd, 2015
• D.E. Thrall Textbook of Veterinary Diagnostic Radiology - 8th Edition, Saunders Philadelphia , 2024.

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 University.

Teaching methods

The course is made up of frontal (face-to-face) and practical hands-on lessons in small groups. Frontal lectures are dedicated to the explanation and description of the images related to the different musculoskeletal and nervous system structures acquired with the different imaging techniques.

The practical lectures are held after the students are divided in small groups. Each group has access to a PC workstation where they can analyse radiographic and tomographic images of different structure of the musculoskeletal and nervous systems.

Aim of this part of the course is to reinforce the ability in the interpretation of the radiographic, tomographic and magnetic resonance images of the normal locomotor and nervous system.

Assessment methods

The final exam of the Integrated Course "Movement, Skin, and Nervous System" 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 musculoskeletal and nervous system. 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 Alessia Diana