Anatomy and Landmarks
This is the muscular valve connecting the stomach to the duodenum.
What is the pylorus?
Normal bowel wall thickness should measure less than this value when adequately distended.
What is 3mm?
This condition presents with non-compressible, blind-end tubular structure in the RLQ.
What is appendicitis?
Dilated fluid-filled loops of bowel with decreased peristalsis suggest this diagnosis.
What is bowel obstruction?
The location where the hormone that is released into the bloodstream in response to fat and protein ingestion.
Where is the small intestine?
Temporailry, coiled folds of mucosal and submucosal tissue lining the stomach that allow it to expand when filled.
What is rugae?
This artifact is commonly seen posterior to gas within bowel loops.
What is dirty shadowing?
Another name for digestive tract.
What is alimentary tract?
The landmark located 1/2 of the distance from the right iliac spine to the umbilicus.
What is McBurney's point?
This hormone is released from the duodenum in response to fats and stimulates gallbladder contraction.
What is cholecystokinin?
This GI segment is retroperitoneal and closely associated with the pancreatic head.
What is the duodenum?
Increased vascularity in bowel wall on Doppler is most suggestive of this process.
What is inflammation?
Thickened bowel with increased Doppler flow is characteristic of this disease.
What is Crohn's disease?
Hyperstalsis early and absent peristalsis later are classic for this condition.
What is small bowel obstruction?
This hormone is released from the stomach and stimulates gastric acid secretion.
What is gastrin?
This structure connects the ileum to the large intestine and may be difficult to visualize unless inflammed.
What is the ileocecal valve?
This sign describes alternating concenric rings seen in transverse imaging of bowel.
What is the target sign?
This condition results in outpouchings of the colon that become inflamed.
What is diverticulitis?
This ultrasound finding in appendicitis increases suspicion for perforation.
What is periappendiceal fluid or abscess?
This hormone decreased gastric emptying and is released in response to fats, helping regulate digestion.
What is cholecystokinin?
This artery provides blood flow to a significant portion of the small and large intestine.
What is the superior mesenteric artery?
Loss of normal bowel wall stratification suggests this concerning condition.
What is malignancy or severe inflammation?
The mucosal folds of the small intestine that are seen on ultrasound when the bowel is fluid-filled &/or dilated and often called the "keyboard sign".
What is valvulae conniventes?
A calcified stone-like deposit within the appendix.
What is an appendicolith?
This physiologic process moves food through the GI tract and can be evaluated on ultrasound to help differentiate obstruction from normal bowel activity.
What is peristalsis?