D0681 - 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 and magnetic resonance imaging 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
• Mai, W. (Ed.). (2018). Diagnostic MRI in dogs and cats. CRC press.
• 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 assessment for 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 1 point; 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 1.5 h and will be considered as successful with a minimum grade of 18/30.
• The second part assesses the acquisition of practical and verbal skills in specific topics within the Integrated Course. This practical examination consists of three different stations: 1) Anatomy, 2) Physiology and Semiology of the nervous system, and 3) Biomechanics and semiology of the musculoskeletal system, and diagnostic imaging of both the nervous and musculoskeletal systems. Each station tests a specific practical skill. A minimum score of 18/30 is required to pass each individual station. The final score for this second part is the arithmetic mean of the scores obtained in each individual station.

The final grade for the Integrated Course is calculated as the weighted average of the written test (60%) and the practical assessment (40%).

Negative results are not graded numerically but recorded as “withdrawn” or “failed” in the electronic transcript on AlmaEsami, and do not affect the student’s academic record. Grades for individual parts and the final grade will be published on the AlmaEsami platform (https://almaesami.unibo.it/?lang=en ) within 5 working days of the date of the exam.

Students may reject the final grade one time, by informing the course examiner via email within 5 working days.

The designated course contact for this course is Domenico Ventrella.

Students can register for exams through the AlmaEsami platform (http://almaesami.unibo.it/ ). Exams are scheduled during the designated periods in the academic calendar. Additional sessions are available for students beyond the standard program duration.

Students with learning disorders and/or temporary or permanent disabilities: please, contact the office responsible (https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/en/for-students ) as soon as possible so that they can propose acceptable adjustments. The request for adaptation must be submitted in advance (15 days before the exam date) to the lecturer, who will assess the appropriateness of the adjustments, taking into account the teaching objectives.

With regard to the learning assessment, the use of AI is prohibited. Any use of AI constitutes a breach of academic integrity.

Teaching tools

The Course uses high-resolution images and video tutorials of diagnostic imaging findings of musculoskeletal and nervous system. Academic lessons use Powerpoint/Keynote presentations. The material, showed during the academic lessons, is available on 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 Simone Perfetti