Alport Syndrome: Alport syndrome is an X-linked recessive disease characterised by: 

• haematuria
• sensory neural hearing loss: typically high frequency
• ocular abnormalities 
• anterior lenticonus: most common ocular abnormality; may result in cataracts
• perimacular pigmentary changes
• flecks around the fovea
• multiple leiomyomas
• oesophagus
• tracheobronchial tree
• female genitalia

It is the result of mutation in collagen type IV, which is found in the basement membrane of the glomerulus, the cochlea and the eye.

Normal size and echotexture in early stage, however advanced disease may show small, shrunken and echogenic kidneys.

In the early stages of Alport syndrome, renal ultrasonograms show healthy-sized kidneys;
with advancing renal failure, however, the kidneys shrink symmetrically and progressively and become echogenic.

Anacoid branch: free from echoes and reverberations, ..
The property of being echo-free or appearing without echoes on a sonographic image;
a cyst filled with clear fluid appears anechoic.

Aneurisym: A localized widening (dilatation) of an artery, a vein, or the heart.
At the point of an aneurysm, there is typically a bulge.
The wall of the blood vessel or organ is weakened and may rupture.

APCKD: Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD)
is the most common life-threatening hereditary disease in the United States, occurring in approximately one in every 400 to 1000 live births.1 ADPKD accounts for approximately 5 to 10% of end-stage renal failure in the United States requiring dialysis and renal transplantation. ADPKD is characterized by progressive enlargement of cyst-filled kidneys, severely affecting those who inherit one of the known genes that cause the disease.

Ultrasonography is the procedure of choice in the workup of patients with ADPKD, and it is an ideal modality for screening patients' families. Plain radiographs offer limited information. Plain radiographic findings are normal in the early stages of ADPKD, but with enlargement of the kidneys, soft-tissue masses displace the intra-abdominal organs.

Arcuate:
An arcuate uterus is a mildly variant shape of the uterus.
It is technically one of the Müllerian duct anomalies, but is often classified as a normal variant.

Atresia: congenital absence or closure of a normal body opening or tubular structure.

Calculi: also called stone.
An abnormal stone formed in body tissues by an accumulation of mineral salts, that forms in an organ or duct of the body.

Caudal: toward the distal end of the body or an inferior position.
Objects and surfaces closer to or facing toward the head are cranial; those facing away or farther from the head are caudal.

Choledocho: Choledochal cysts are congenital bile duct anomalies.
These cystic dilatations of the biliary tree can involve the extrahepatic biliary radicles, the intrahepatic biliary radicles, or both. A cystic mass in the upper abdomen may be found by accident during a routine ultrasound examination. ... patients with a choledochal cyst have a higher risk in developing a bile duct carcinoma ...

Cushing Syndrome: The Obesity Tumor.
In 1932, a physician named Harvey Cushing described 8 patients with central body obesity, glucose intolerance, hypertension, excess hair growth, osteoporosis, kidney stones, menstrual irregularity, and emotional liability. It is now known that these symptoms characterize Cushing's syndrome, which is the result of excess production of cortisol by the adrenal glands.

Cortisol is a powerful steroid hormone, and excess cortisol has detrimental effects on many cells throughout the body.  Keep in mind that Cushing's syndrome is rare, occurring in only about 10 patients per one million. On the other hand, simple obesity can be associated with some of these symptoms in the absence of an adrenal tumor; this is related to the slightly different mechanism by which normally-produced steroids are metabolized by individuals who are obese.

Since cortisol production by the adrenal glands is normally under the control of the pituitary, overproduction can be caused by a tumor in the pituitary or within the adrenal glands themselves. When a pituitary tumor secretes too much ACTH (adreno corticotropic hormone), it causes the otherwise normal adrenal glands to produce too much cortisol. This type of Cushing's syndrome is termed Cushing's disease, and it is diagnosed like other endocrine disorders (by measuring hormone production). In this case, serum cortisol will be elevated, and serum ACTH will also be elevated.

When the adrenal glands develop a tumor, like any other endocrine gland, they usually produce excess amounts of the hormone normally produced by these cells. If the adrenal tumor is composed of cortisol-producing cells, excess cortisol will be produced. Under these conditions, the normal pituitary will sense the excess cortisol and will stop making ACTH in an attempt to slow the adrenal down. In this manner, physicians can readily distinguish whether excess cortisol is the result of a pituitary tumor or an adrenal tumor.

Even more rare is when excess ACTH is produced somewhere other than the pituitary.
This is extremely uncommon, but certain lung cancers can produce ACTH.
In this situation, patients develop Cushing's syndrome in the same way as if the ACTH was coming from the pituitary.

Decubitus Position: a position used in producing a radiograph of the chest or abdomen of a patient who is lying down, with the central ray horizontal. The patient may be prone (ventral decubitus), supine (dorsal decubitus), or on the left or right side (left or right lateral decubitus).

Dysplasia: Doctors order a hip ultrasound when they suspect a problem called developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH). DDH is a hip deformity that can occur before, during, or weeks to months after birth. In a normal-functioning hip, the femoral head rests comfortably in its socket. In babies with DDH, the femoral head moves back and forth within the socket; in more serious cases, it may move out of the socket, but can be put back into place with pressure - this is called dislocation. In the most severe cases, it may not be possible to put the femoral head into the socket at all.

Dyschezia: Dyschezia is a condition in which defecation is extremely difficult or painful.
An abdominal ultrasound can deliver even greater visualization than an x-ray, enabling your veterinarian to detect disease of the prostate, or masses in the lower abdomen.

Dysuria: Dysuria is the symptom of painful micturition.
Ultrasound of the urinary tract, pelvis or abdomen if there is suspicion of obstruction or masses.

Echogenicity: the ability to bounce an echo.
Echogenicity is higher when the surface bouncing the sound echo reflects increased sound waves.
Tissues that have higher echogenicity are called "hyperechogenic" and are usually represented with lighter colors on images in medical ultrasonography. In contrast, tissues with lower echogenicity are called "hypoechogenic" and are usually represented with darker colors. Areas that lack echogenicity are called "anechogenic" and are usually displayed as completely dark.

Echogenicity can be increased by intravenously administering gas-filled microbubble contrast agent to the systemic circulation, with the procedure being called contrast-enhanced ultrasound. This is because microbubbles have a high degree of echogenicity. When gas bubbles are caught in an ultrasonic frequency field, they compress, oscillate, and reflect a characteristic echo- this generates the strong and unique sonogram in contrast-enhanced ultrasound. Gas cores can be composed of air, or heavy gases like perfluorocarbon, or nitrogen. Heavy gases are less water-soluble so they are less likely to leak out from the microbubble to impair echogenicity. Therefore, microbubbles with heavy gas cores are likely to last longer in circulation.

Ehrlichia: a genus of rickettsiales bacteria.
They are transmitted by ticks. Several species can cause infection (Ehrlichiosis) in humans.
The genus is named after German microbiologist Paul Ehrlich. These diseases are considered zoonotic as the main reservoir for the pathogen is in animal, usually mammal species.

Ehrlichia are obligately intracellular pathogens and are transported between cells through the host cell filopodia during initial stages of infection, whereas, in the final stages of infection the pathogen ruptures the host cell membrane.

FAST: Focused assessment with sonography for trauma (commonly abbreviated as FAST)
is a rapid bedside ultrasound examination performed by surgeons, emergency physicians and certain paramedics as a screening test for blood around the heart (pericardial effusion) or abdominal organs (hemoperitoneum) after trauma.

The four classic areas that are examined for free fluid are the perihepatic space (also called Morison's pouch or the hepatorenal recess), perisplenic space, pericardium, and the pelvis. With this technique it is possible to identify the presence of intraperitoneal or pericardial free fluid. In the context of traumatic injury, this fluid will usually be due to bleeding.

FIP: Feline Infectious Peritonitis.
Feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) is a usually fatal, incurable disease that affects cats.
It is believed by some to be caused by Feline Infectious Peritonitis Virus (FIPV), which is a mutation of Feline Enteric Coronavirus (FECV) - (Feline Coronavirus FeCoV). Although there appears to be a connection between FIP and feline coronavirus, ... the virus has the ability to invade and grow in certain white blood cells, namely macrophages. The immune system's response causes an intense inflammatory reaction in the containing tissues. This disease is generally fatal. However, its incidence rate is roughly 1 in 5000 for households with one or two cats. A nasally administered vaccine for FIP is available ....

Focused Ultrasound Therapy:
Focused ultrasound, a completely non-invasive, radiation-free method to treat bone metastases, is approved in the United States, Europe, and other regions of the world. Using this treatment modality in conjunction with image guidance, the physician administers appropriate pain mitigation and then directs a focused beam of acoustic energy through the patient's skin, superficial fat layer, muscles, and other organs to heat the targeted bone and bone-tissue interface. This significant rise in temperature thermally coagulates the periosteal membrane surrounding the targeted bone and may even directly damage tumoral tissue in the targeted area. The destruction of the periosteum, which contains the pain-reporting nerve fibers, provides rapid pain palliation. However, it should be noted that focused ultrasound is not suitable for every patient.

There are several potential benefits of focused ultrasound for the treatment of painful bone metastases:

1. It is a non-invasive, low-morbidity treatment that allows for a quick return to normal life (usually the next day).

2. It offers rapid and durable resolution of bone metastasis pain.
3. A single therapy session is usually enough for significant symptomatic improvement.
4. It has a reported low rate of complications.

Treatment does not use ionizing radiation, which means:
• It is possible to repeat focused ultrasound treatments to bone.
• It is possible to treat patients who have reached their maximum dose of radiation for the targeted bone metastasis.

• It is possible to combine radiotherapy for the primary tumor with focused ultrasound to the bone metastasis without creating local overdose.

• It has a theoretical advantage of reducing structural damage to bone and allowing faster bone healing after treatment.

Glomerulonephritis:
Acute glomerulonephritis causes edema due to diffuse parenchymal inflammation leading to renal enlargement.
Contrast-enhance CT is contraindicated in these patients--ultrasound is the diagnostic modality of choice. Imaging studies are usually non-specific and may show only smooth bilateral renal enlargement during the acute phase of the disease. Diagnosis usually requires a biopsy. The role of imaging in these patients is to exclude obstruction as the cause of renal insufficiency that may be reversible with urinary tract decompression.

Each glomerulus (the singular form of glomeruli) is like a filter.
The structure of the glomerulus allows waste products and some water and salts to pass from the blood into a tiny channel called a tubule, while keeping blood cells and protein in the bloodstream. Each glomerulus and tubule is called a nephron. There are about one million nephrons in each kidney.

The liquid that remains at the end of each tubule is called urine.
This drains into larger channels (collecting ducts) which drain into the inner part of the kidney (the renal pelvis). From the renal pelvis the urine passes down a tube called the ureter which goes from each kidney to the bladder. Urine is stored in the bladder until it is passed out through another tube, called the urethra, when you go to the toilet. The cleaned (filtered) blood from each kidney collects into a large renal vein which takes the blood back towards the heart. The kidneys, ureters, bladder and urethra are, together, called the urinary tract.

Glomerulonephritis is the name given to a range of conditions that can affect the glomeruli of the kidney.
Glomerulo refers to the glomeruli and nephritis means inflammation of the kidney. ... there is not always inflammation present in some types of glomerulonephritis. In glomerulonephritis there is damage to the glomeruli. This damage interferes with the function of the glomeruli and it can interfere with the function of the kidneys as a whole. Salt and excess fluid can build up in the body if the kidneys are not working normally. This can lead to complications such as high blood pressure and, in some cases, kidney failure can occur.

Infection with certain types of streptococcal bacteria is the most common infection that can trigger glomerulonephritis. This can happen after an upper respiratory tract infection or a skin infection that was caused by those bacteria. Symptoms of glomerulonephritis typically develop between one and three weeks after the initial infection. Other bacteria, viruses, parasites, or fungi can also trigger glomerulonephritis. Glomerulonephritis that is triggered by a infection may occur at any age but it most commonly develops in children aged between 5 and 15 years.

Glomerulonephritis can also be triggered after taking certain medicines, including non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).

Hemangiocarcinoma: an incurable tumor of cells that line blood vessels, called vascular endothelial cells.
Unlike other cancers, hemangiosarcoma is almost an exclusive disease of dogs. In people, a similar type of tumor (angiosarcoma) occurs only rarely in association with workplace exposure to vinyl chloride and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), such as is found in rubber and tire plants. An even smaller fraction of women who receive high dose radiation therapy for cancer (usually breast cancer) can develop angiosarcoma of the skin. Yet, angiosarcomas account for much less than 1% of all tumors seen in people. .. Benign tumors of vascular endothelial cells, called hemangiomas, arise in the skin of people and dogs that have extended exposure to sunlight. These tumors are distinct from hemangiosarcomas and angiosarcomas, and they are not life threatening.

Generally, the tumor cells retain some normal aspects of behavior, so they try to make blood vessels. But these vessels are tortuous and malformed, and blood cells tend to pool in them and clot. The clots then prevent blood and nutrients from reaching tumor cells, in turn causing them to die. This creates small ruptures in the tumor through which blood may escape into the abdomen, heart sac, chest, or subcutaneous space. Depending on the amount of blood lost, affected dogs may show non-specific (constitutional) signs such as lethargy and weakness, but these are transient and resolve as dogs reabsorb the blood components and make new blood cells.

The clinical signs are recurrent, but they also are subtle enough to go unnoticed for some time.
Since hemangiosarcoma tends to metastasize aggressively to lungs, liver, intestines, and mesentery (the membranous connective tissue that supports the intestines), distant spread (either microscopic or macroscopic) has inevitably occurred once the disease is finally diagnosed. The eventual outcome for patients with this disease often follows the rupture of a large or rapidly growing tumor, which results in acute, severe hemorrhage, collapse, shock, and death.

Hemogloscarcoma:
A rare malignant neoplasm characterized by rapidly proliferating anaplastic cells derived from blood vessels and lining blood-filled spaces. a malignant tumor of endothelial cells characterized by extensive metastasis, being cavitatious and bleeding profusely if cut. Occurs in spleen, liver, skin, right atrium and muscle. It can cause severe hemorrhagic anemia by bleeding internally. A frequent cause of death is the rupturing of this tumor, causing the patient to rapidly bleed to death.

Hemoperitoneum: Blood in the peritoneal cavity.
The presence of extravasated blood in the peritoneal cavity caused by surgical procedures, necrotizing tumors, fistulas, or laparoscopy procedures.

Hepato-cutaneous syndrome: The aetiology is unknown, but hepatic disease, particularly vacuolar degeneration or cirrhosis, or pancreatic tumours producing glucagon (which is the syndrome seen in humans) are present. Some dogs also have diabetes mellitus. The link between systemic disease and the skin disorder is unclear but may reflect low plasma levels of amino acids. Whether the changes in the liver or pancreas are a cause or an effect of the hypoaminoacidaemia is unknown.
The skin disease may precede or occur at the same time as signs of internal disease.

The syndrome named hepatocutaneous syndrome also has other names including necrolytic migratory erythema (NME) and superficial necrolytic dermatitis (SND). This disease has been recognized in dogs (and reported in one cat) as well as humans with some differences and similarities in each species.

In essence, there is usually underlying liver or pancreatic pathology indicating a primary liver or pancreatic tumor (glucagonoma), diabetes mellitus or Cushing's disease. Radiographs or abdominal ultrasounds are useful to determine if a tumor is present.

In humans, it is more common to have a pancreatic tumor (glucagonoma) but in our canine patients, liver pathology is more common. Ideally, if the underlying liver or pancreatic problem can be resolved, the skin pathology will be corrected. This is often more successful in patients with Cushing's disease or diabetes mellitus as once the disease is brought under control, the skin lesions may dissipate. However when neoplasia is involved, the skin lesions may persist and be quite painful.

A recent report from France of four patients with hepatocutaneous syndrome, found no liver or pancreatic abnormalities on necropsy in two of the patients. The presence of skin lesions therefore can also be a "reaction" to a metabolic change in the body.

Hilus: an indentation appearing on an organ or other internal structure, such as a lymph node, at the point where nerves and vessels enter. Also called hilum.

Histocytosis: a general name for a group of disorders or "syndromes" that involve an abnormal increase in the number of immune cells that are called histiocytes.

Histiocytosis X ... a person's immune cells mistakenly attack the body, rather than help the body fight infections.

Hydronephrosis: is defined as dilatation of the urinary collecting system of the kidney (the calices, the infundibula, and the pelvis); in general everything able to obstruct the inner lumen of the collecting system or causing extrinsic compression can block urinary flow and lead to renal colic.

Bedside renal sonography in the emergency department is also useful in the patient presenting with decreased urinary output or anuria, acute renal failure or pyelonephritis.  Similar to the renal colic patient it allows the examiner to narrow the differential diagnosis by evaluating the retroperitoneal anatomical structures for abnormalities but gives only limited clues for the functional status of the urinary system.

Hyperplasia: abnormal increase in the number of normal cells in normal arrangement in an organ or tissue, which increases its volume.

Hypoalbumunemia: is a medical condition where blood levels of albumin are abnormally low.
Albumin is a major protein in the human body, making up about 55-60% of total human plasma protein by mass. Many hormones, drugs, and other molecules are mostly bound to albumin in the bloodstream and must be released before becoming biologically active. For example, calcium binds to albumin and hypoalbuminemia leads to an increase in free ionized calcium.

Albumin is synthesized in the liver, and low serum albumin may be indicative of liver failure or diseases such as cirrhosis or chronic hepatitis. Hypoalbuminemia can also present as part of the nephrotic syndrome, in which protein is lost in the urine due to kidney damage. Low albumin levels can be an indicator of chronic malnutrition or protein losing enteropathy.

Hypoalbuminemia may cause generalized edema (swelling) via a decrease in oncotic pressure.

IHBDD: congenital intrahepatic bile duct dilatation (IHBDD) (Caroli disease and syndrome).

Ileus: PHOTO
(from Greek .. eileós, "intestinal obstruction") is a disruption of the normal propulsive ability of the gastrointestinal tract. Although ileus originally referred to any lack of digestive propulsion, including any bowel obstruction, up-to-date medical usage restricts its meaning to those disruptions caused by the failure of peristalsis, rather than by mechanical obstruction. Although certain older terms such as gallstone ileus and meconium ileus persist in usage, they are now misnomers (which does not mean that they are incorrect or obsolete, but rather simply that they are known not to sound like what they really are).

Paralysis of the intestine is often termed paralytic ileus, in which the intestinal paralysis need not be complete, but it must be sufficient to prohibit the passage of food through the intestine and lead to intestinal blockage. Paralytic ileus is a common side effect of some types of surgery, commonly called postsurgical ileus. It can also result from certain drugs and from various injuries and illnesses, such as acute pancreatitis. Paralytic ileus causes constipation and bloating. On listening to the abdomen with a stethoscope, no bowel sounds are heard because the bowel is inactive. ... Since the intestinal content of this portion is unable to move forward, food or drink should be avoided until peristaltic sound is heard, by auscultation (use of a stethoscope) of the area where this portion lies. Intestinal atony or paralysis may be caused by inhibitory neural reflexes, inflammation or other implication of neurohumoral peptides.

Infarction: tissue death (necrosis) caused by a local lack of oxygen, due to an obstruction of the tissue's blood supply.

Inferior Vena Cava: Photo-1 Photo-2
The biggest vein in the body, returning blood to the heart from the lower half of the body.
It is formed by the junction of the two common iliac veins to the right of the fifth lumbar vertebra and ascends along the vertebral column, pierces the diaphragm, and empties into the right atrium of the heart. As it passes through the diaphragm, it receives a covering of serous pericardium. The inferior Vena Cava contains a semilunar valve that is rudimentary in the adult but very large and important in the fetus. The vessel receives blood from the two common iliacs, the lumbar veins, and the testicular veins. Because the inferior Vena Cava is located to the right of the midline, drainage of the tributaries is not always symmetrical.

Health problems attributed to the IVC are most often associated with it being compressed (ruptures are rare because it has a low intraluminal pressure). Typical sources of external pressure are an enlarged aorta (abdominal aortic aneurysm), the gravid uterus (aortocaval compression syndrome) and abdominal malignancies, such as colorectal cancer, renal cell carcinoma and ovarian cancer. Since the inferior Vena Cava is primarily a right-sided structure, unconscious pregnant women should be turned on to their left side (the recovery position), to relieve pressure on it and facilitate venous return. In rare cases, straining associated with defecation can lead to restricted blood flow through the IVC and result in syncope (fainting).

Intercostal: between the ribs.

Lipidosis: Hepatic lipidosis is a major metabolic disorder in animals which develops when the hepatic availability of lipogenic and glucogenic products is imbalanced. Cobalt deficiency, vitamin E deficiency, pregnancy toxemia, toxicosis and negative energy balance were recorded as causes of hepatic lipidosis in sheep and goats. Goats are generally considered quite resistant to developing cobalt and cyanocobalamin deficiencies. However, recent studies have shown that Omani goats fed with diets containing 0.1 ppm of cobalt, the minimum daily requirement specified for sheep, developed low levels of serum vitamin B12, anaemia, hepatic lipidosis, poorer growth rates and bone lengths and a decrease in apparent nutrient digestibility.

Lumen: a lumen (Lat. an opening or light) is the inside space of a tubular structure, such as an artery or intestine. By extension, the term lumen is also used to describe the inside space of a cellular component or structure.

Lymphoma: is the name applied to a group of blood cell tumors that develop from lymphatic cells.
The name often refers to just the cancerous ones rather than all such tumors.
Symptoms may include enlarged lymph nodes, fever, drenching sweats, weight loss, itching, and feeling tired.
The enlarged lymph nodes are usually painless.
The sweats are most common at night.

Mastocytoma:
Mastocytosis is the term for a diverse group of conditions where a single (or clonal) population of mast cells accumulates in one or more tissues, for example skin, bone marrow, liver, spleen, gastrointestinal tract and lymph nodes. The severity of symptoms depend on the number of mast cells in the tissues. A high load of mast cells leads to more severe symptoms. Cutaneous mastocytosis causes itching, swelling and blistering of the affected skin, particularly when it is rubbed or scratched.

Metastasis:
Bone is the third most common tissue affected by metastatic disease.
Breast, lung, and prostate cancer metastasize to bone most frequently.
Common symptoms of bone metastases include pain, fractures, spinal cord compression, and high blood calcium levels.

One explanation regarding the source of the pain from bone metastases is the layer covering the outer surface of the bone, called the periosteum. The periosteum is rich with nerve fibers that produce pain when the membrane is irritated or damaged. Bone metastases can cause pain by direct or indirect sensitization of the periosteum.

Patterns do exist between ultrasound appearance of the liver metastases and the likely primary, which is sometimes helpful in directing search for an unknown primary, as well as helping distinguish between benign lesions and metastatic disease from a particular primary

Mirobilia:
Proteus mirabilis, a species of anaerobic, motile, rod-shaped bacteria found in putrid meat, abscesses, and fecal material. It is a leading cause of urinary tract infections, and, the formation of renal and bladder calculi.

Proteus can cause urinary tract infections and hospital-acquired infections.
Proteus is unique, however, because it is highly motile and does not form regular colonies.
Instead, Proteus forms what are known as "swarming colonies" when plated on non-inhibitory media.

The most important member of this genus is considered to be Proteus mirabilis, a cause of wound and urinary tract infections. Fortunately, most strains of Proteus mirabilis are sensitive to ampicillin and cephalosporins. Unlike its relative, Proteus vulgaris is not sensitive to these antibiotics. However, this organism is isolated less often in the laboratory and usually only targets immunosuppressed individuals. Proteus mirabilis and Proteus vulgaris can be differentiated by an indole test for which only Proteus vulgaris tests positive. Proteus vulgaris occurs naturally in the intestines of humans and a wide variety of animals; also manure, soil and polluted waters.

More than 80% of human urinary tract infections (UTI) are due to the bacterium, Escherichia coli, but urinary infections due to Proteus mirabilis are also well documented. Proteus mirabilis once attached to urinary tract, infects the kidney more commonly than E. coli. Proteus mirabilis belongs to family Enterobacteriaceae and is a gram-negative motile swarmer bacterium. Proteus mirabilis are often found as free living organisms in soil and water but they are also parasitic in the upper urinary tract of human beings.

Morrison post/Morison's Pouch:
Named after the British surgeon James Rutherford Morison, Morison's pouch is also known as the hepatorenal recess or the subhepatic recess (the space that separates the liver from the right kidney).

This recess is free of fluid under normal circumstances, but can fill with fluid under certain conditions such as hemoperitoneum or ascites. This space can best be visualized via ultrasound.

"The amount of intraperitoneal fluid needed for detection by ultrasound has been reported to be as little as 100 mL and will depend on the source of the bleeding and patient positioning."

In adults, any low frequency probe is adequate to visualize the space.
However, in pediatric trauma patients who have small intercostals spaces a microconvex probe should be used to avoid rib shadowing. Morison's Pouch is one of the 4 views of the FAST exam.

Mucocoele: any dilatation (typically pathologic) with accumulation of mucus.

Müllerian Ducts: a duct, or tube, that is present in the human embryo.
It extends down the sides of the structure known as the urogenital ridge, the Mullerian eminence, a structure that helps form the urinary and genital organs. It is interesting to note that the Mullerian duct only develops fully in females, helping to form the female reproductive system. If the embryo becomes male, these ducts are lost.

While the female embryo is in the developmental stages, there are two separate structures that will develop to assist one another with the formation of the reproductive system. One of these structures is the Mullerian duct itself, and the other is called the urogenital sinus. The urogenital sinus eventually evolves into the bladder as well as helping to form other parts of the urinary and reproductive systems. The adjoining ducts, known as the Wolffian ducts, will develop and help to form the male reproductive organs.

A chemical known as the anti-Müllerian hormone controls the development of the Mullerian duct by the very presence or absence of this hormone, which is made primarily in the testicles of male embryos. Disturbances in the production of this hormone, and consequently the Mullerian duct, can lead to medical issues, depending on the nature of the disturbance. Persistent Müllerian duct syndrome is a condition in which the Mullerian duct does not disappear in the male embryo. Instead, a uterus or other derivative of this duct is present. In humans, the most common cause of this syndrome is a genetic disorder or mutation. Surgery to remove the female organs or tissues is generally performed in the hopes of preserving male reproductive capabilities.

Müllerian agenesis is another medical condition that can occur due to abnormalities in the hormones responsible for the development of the Mullerian duct. With this condition, the uterus is missing in the female, and there are usually various types of malformations of the vagina. Surgery is an option in order to allow for comfortable sexual intercourse. However, there is currently no way to allow for fertility in the female with this condition. Counseling is often suggested to those suffering from this disorder.

Myelolipomas: marrow; (lipo, meaning of, or pertaining to, fat; -oma, meaning tumor or mass)
A benign tumor-like lesion composed of mature adipose (fat) tissue and haematopoietic (blood-forming) elements in various proportions.

Myelolipomas can present in the adrenal gland, or outside of the gland.

Ultrasound:
Exact sonographic appearances are varied depending on individual tumour components
Usually be seen as a heterogenous mass of mixed hyper- and hypoechoic components with the former primarily resulting from fatty portions.

The CT appearance is usually characteristic.
The typical adrenal myelolipoma appears as an adrenal mass with fat-containing components.
The mass is usually relatively well circumscribed, however in masses that are mostly fat, it may be difficult to separate it out from surrounding retroperitoneal fat. 

The amount of fatty component is variable, ranging from only a few small regions in an otherwise mostly soft tissue density mass (10%) to masses made up of roughly equal components of fat and soft tissue (50%) or almost completely composed of fatty tissue (40%). The soft tissue and fatty components can be sufficiently mixed in some cases to render the mass a density similar to fluid. Small punctate calcifications may be seen in 25-30% of cases. 

Oxalosis: Oxalosis - The widespread deposition of calcium oxalate crystals in the kidneys, bones, arterial media, and myocardium, with increased urinary excretion of oxalate.

Hyperoxaluria, also known as oxalosis, is defined by the presence of excess amounts of oxalic acid (oxalate) in the urine. It is a relatively common finding in those who suffer from calcium oxalate renal tract stones. High concentrations lead to formation of calcium oxalate-apatite crystals and ultimately to nephrolithiasis.

Oxalosis is defined as the systemic deposition of calcium oxalate crystals in multiple extrarenal organs, such as the heart, retina, skin, central nervous system, bone marrow, and blood vessels. There are 3 types of hyperoxaluria: primary, secondary, and idiopathic.

Primary hyperoxaluria types 1 and 2 are rare autosomal recessive metabolic disorders in which increased oxalate production results from defective glyoxylate metabolism in the liver. Normally, glyoxylate is converted to glycine, but in PH there is increased oxidation of glyoxylate to oxalate, resulting in increased urinary excretion of insoluble calcium oxalate and glycolate, leading to nephrocalcinosis, nephrolithiasis, and renal failure.

Type 1 is more common and more severe, with progression to end-stage renal disease in 50% of patients by age 15 years and with increased prevalence in the Mediterranean belt and in countries with a high consanguinity rate. Early diagnosis determines the effectiveness of treatment. Combined liver-kidney transplantation is the treatment of choice for type 1 with progressive renal failure. In addition, it is thought that same-donor liver-kidney transplant may protect the kidney from rejection.

Papilla:

1. A small nipple like projection, such as a protuberance on the skin, at the root of a hair or feather, or at the base of a developing tooth.
2. One of the small, round or cone-shaped protuberances on the top of the tongue that contain taste buds.
3. A pimple or pustule.

Parenchyma:
The distinguishing cells of a gland or organ, contained in and supported by the stroma.

1. Botany: the fundamental tissue of plants, composed of thin-walled cells able to divide.
2. Anatomy, Zoology: the specific tissue of an animal organ as distinguished from its connective or supporting tissue.
3. Zoology: a type of soft, spongy connective tissue of certain invertebrates, as the flatworms.
4. Pathology: the functional tissue of a morbid growth.

1. The distinguishing or specific cells of a gland or organ,
--- contained in and supported by the connective tissue framework, or stroma.
2. The endoplasm of a protozoan cell.
3. In the lung, consists of the gas-exchanging portion,
--- excluding the radiographically visible blood vessels and bronchi.

Perinephric: Surrounding the kidney in whole or part.

The adipose capsule of kidney (or perinephric fat or perirenal fat) is a structure between the renal fascia and renal capsule, and may be regarded as a part of the latter. A different structure, the pararenal fat, is the adipose tissue superficial to the renal fascia.

Phoecromoxcytoma: a neuroendocrine tumor of the medulla of the adrenal glands (originating in the chromaffin cells), or extra-adrenal chromaffin tissue that failed to involute after birth and secretes high amounts of catecholamines, mostly epinephrine, plus norepinephrine to a lesser extent. Extra-adrenal paragangliomas (often described as extra-adrenal pheochromocytomas) are closely related, though less common, tumors that originate in the ganglia of the sympathetic nervous system and are named based upon the primary anatomical site of origin.

Also, a rare, catecholamine-secreting tumor that may precipitate life-threatening hypertension.
The tumor is malignant in 10% of cases but may be cured completely by surgical removal. Although pheochromocytoma has classically been associated with 3 syndromes-von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) syndrome, multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2 (MEN 2), and neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1)-there are now 10 genes that have been identified as sites of mutations leading to pheochromocytoma.

PKD: Polycystic kidney disease (PKD or PCKD, also known as polycystic kidney syndrome)
is a cystic genetic disorder of the kidneys. There are two types of PKD: autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) and the less-common autosomal recessive polycystic kidney disease (ARPKD).

It occurs in humans and some other animals.
PKD is characterized by the presence of multiple cysts (hence, "polycystic") typically in both kidneys; however 17% of cases initially present with observable disease in one kidney, with most cases progressing to bilateral disease in adulthood. The cysts are numerous and are fluid-filled, resulting in massive enlargement of the kidneys. The disease can also damage the liver, pancreas and, in some rare cases, the heart and brain. The two major forms of polycystic kidney disease are distinguished by their patterns of inheritance. Polycystic kidney disease is one of the most common life-threatening genetic diseases, affecting an estimated 12.5 million people worldwide.

Plication:

1. the act or procedure of folding. 
2. the state or quality of being folded; a fold. 

Polkakiuria: A more frequent urination; an increase in the frequency of urination without increased diuresis (urine total volume issued in 24 hours). The most common causes are urinary tract infections, urinary incontinence, benign prostatic hyperplasia and urolithiasis.

Pollypoid: ike a polyp or tumor on a stalk.
Like a polyp; having the nature of a polyp, but lacking the tentacles or other parts.

Portosystemic: connecting the portal and systemic venous circulation.

PUPD - "PU/PD":
This is shorthand for a medical term: polyuria and polydipsia,
--- which simply means urinating and drinking more than normal.

The most common causes of PU/PD in our companion animals are:

hyperthyroidism (cats) 
diabetes mellitus 
acute or chronic renal insufficiency 
lower urinary tract disease (like bladder infections) 
hypercalcemia (often secondary to feline lymphoma) 
uterine infection (pyometra) 
liver disease 
Cushing's Syndrome (dogs) 

To diagnose or rule out these possible causes, we need a good history, physical exam, basic blood work, and urinalysis. Based on the results of these, radiographs, special challenge tests, and ultrasound might be warranted.

Pyelonephritis: an inflammation of the kidney tissue, calyces, and pelvis.
It is commonly caused by bacterial infection that has spread up the urinary tract or travelled through the bloodstream to the kidneys.

A similar term is "pyelitis" which means inflammation of the pelvis and calyces.
In other words, pyelitis together with nephritis is collectively known as pyelonephritis.
Severe cases of pyelonephritis can lead to pyonephrosis (pus accumulation around the kidney), sepsis (a systemic inflammatory response of the body to infection), kidney failure and even death.

Pyelonephritis presents with fever, accelerated heart rate, painful urination, abdominal pain radiating to the back, nausea, and tenderness at the costovertebral angle on the affected side. Pyelonephritis that has progressed to urosepsis may be accompanied by signs of septic shock, including rapid breathing, decreased blood pressure, violent shivering, and occasionally delirium.

Pyelonephritis requires antibiotic therapy, and sometimes surgical intervention such as ureteroscopy, percutaneous nephrostomy or percutaneous nephrolithotomy, as well as treatment of any underlying causes to prevent its recurrence. Xanthogranulomatous pyelonephritis is a rare form of chronic pyelonephritis in which surgical removal of the kidney is usually necessary for definitive treatment.

Rugal folds:
The rugal folds are the mucosal folds within the stomach that give the distinctive appearance on barium studies.

Scepticemia: bacteria in the blood (bacteremia) that often occurs with severe infections.
Also called sepsis, septicemia is a serious, life-threatening infection that gets worse very quickly.

The root cause of septicemia is a bacterial infection (typically severe) in another part of the body.
Urinary tract infections, lung infections, and infections in the abdominal area are all potential causes of septicemia. Bacteria from these infections enter the bloodstream and multiply, causing immediate symptoms.

• chills
• elevated body temperature
• very fast respiration and/or heart rate
• confusion or inability to think clearly
• red dots that appear on the skin
• a reduction in urine volume
• inadequate blood flow (shock)

Sceptae: a dividing wall, membrane, or the like, in a plant or animal structure.
A septum (Latin for something that encloses; plural septa) is a wall, dividing a cavity or structure into smaller ones.
Examples of use:
Septae - Cells that are beyond about 5 cross walls ...
Each of the testes is divided into lobes, or septae,
Others have septae or cross walls in their hyphae.
In this region, fat cells are arranged in chambers surrounded by bands of connective tissue called septae.

Serosa:
A virtual connective-tissue membrane covered by a single layer of mesothelial cells, which lines body cavities (e.g., pericardium, peritoneum, pleura) and covers the outer surface of organs (e.g., heart, intestines, and lungs) present in those cavities.

Squamous: scaly or platelike.
Of, relating to, or being a stratified epithelium that consists at least in its outer layers of small scalelike cells.
These rough, scaly, slightly raised growths, ranging in color from brown to red and from about 1 mm to 1 inch in diameter, are found on sun-exposed areas of the body, most often in older people.

Stranguria: a slow and painful discharge of urine drop by drop produced by spasmodic muscular contraction of the urethra and bladder. ... straining to pass urine ... Very little or no urine is passed.

a syndrome characterized by frequent, difficult and painful discharge of urine accompanied by abdominal pain or lumbago.

Subxyphoid: situated, occurring, or performed below the xiphoid process.

Superior Mesenteric Artery: Photo
Blood supply to the large intestine originates in the superior and inferior mesenteric arteries.
The superior mesenteric artery (SMA) is one of the three non-paired arteries that provide blood to the gut and other abdominal viscera.

Tamponade: Pathologic compression of an organ.
The closure or blockage (as of a wound or body cavity) by or as if by a tampon, especially to stop bleeding.
Tamponade is a useful method of stopping a hemorrhage.
This can be achieved by applying an absorbent dressing directly into a wound, thereby absorbing excess blood and creating a blockage, or by applying direct pressure with a hand or a tourniquet.

There can, however, be disastrous consequences when tamponade occurs as a result of health problems, as in the case of cardiac tamponade. In this situation, fluid collects between the heart muscle and the pericardium. The pressure within the pericardium prevents the heart from expanding fully and filling the ventricles, with the result that a significantly reduced amount of blood circulates within the body. If left unchecked, this condition will result in death.

Tensesmus:
The feeling that you need to pass stools, even though your bowels are already empty.
It may involve straining, pain, and cramping.

Thrombosis: blood clot.

Trigone: a smooth triangular region of the internal urinary bladder formed by the two ureteral orifices and the internal urethral orifice.

Tumefactive: producing swelling.
The act or process of puffing or swelling. -- A swollen condition. -- A puffy or swollen part.

Ureterocele:
A ureterocele is a congenital abnormality found in the ureter.
In this condition called ureteroceles, the distal ureter balloons at its opening into the bladder, forming a sac-like pouch.

- prolapse (the slipping or falling out of place of an organ) of the end of the ureter into the bladder; may obstruct urine flow.

Uroliths: a calculus (stone) in the urine or the urinary tract.
A hard lump produced by the concretion of mineral salts; found in hollow organs or ducts of the body.

Xyphoid Process: the smallest of three parts of the sternum, articulating with the inferior end of the body of the sternum above and laterally with the seventh rib. Several muscles of the abdominal wall are attached to the xiphoid process, including the rectus abdominis. Also called ensiform cartilage, ensiform process, xiphisternum, xiphoid (sword shaped), xiphoid appendix.

Xiphodynia is a term used to describe an 'uncommon' syndrome with a constellation of symptoms ranging from upper abdominal pain, chest pain, sometimes throat and arm symptoms which are referred from the xiphisternal joint or the structures attached to the xiphoid process.

Symptoms.
Xiphodynia is a musculoskeletal disorder capable of producing a constellation of symptoms that mimic several common abdominal and thoracic diseases including:

• Cardiac chest pain
• Epigastric pain (throat)
• Nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea
• Radiating pain into the back, neck, shoulders, arms and chest wall

Aetiology.
While xiphodynia is frequently insidious in onset, trauma may precipitate the syndrome.
Acceleration/deceleration injuries, blunt trauma to the chest, unaccustomed heavy lifting and aerobics have been known to precipitate xiphodynia likely because of the muscular attachments.

URLs of some Medical Term RESOURCES.

Cardiovascular Ultrasound.
http://www.cardiovascularultrasound.com/

Cats and Dogs on the Web.
http://www.cats-and-dogs-on-the-web.com/

Crosswords 911 Search.
http://crosswords911.com/

Dermnet New Zealand.
http://www.dermnetnz.org/

Dictionary Reference.
http://dictionary.reference.com/

Endocrineweb: Conditions.
http://www.endocrineweb.com/conditions/

The Focused Ultrasound Foundation.
http://www.fusfoundation.org/

The Free Dictionary.
http://medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/

Healthline.
http://www.healthline.com/

Journal of Ultrasound Medicine.
http://www.jultrasoundmed.org/

Keg-1 Key Phrases.
http://www.keywen.com/

MedHelp.
http://www.medhelp.org/

Medical Lexicon.
http://www.medilexicon.com/medicaldictionary.php

Medicine Net.
http://www.medicinenet.com/

Med imaging -- Ultrasound articles.
http://www.medimaging.net/ultrasound/articles/

MIC.ca, Patient Preparation Details.
http://mic.ca/images/exam_prep_instructions/general.pdf

Onelook Dictionary Search.
http://www.onelook.com/

Patient.co.uk/doctor/.
http://www.patient.co.uk/doctor/

Pet Doctor Mom, Blog. https://petdoctormom.wordpress.com/

Phage Therapy Center.
http://www.phagetherapycenter.com/

Rad USUHS.
http://rad.usuhs.edu/

Radiopaedia.org/.
http://radiopaedia.org/

Rayur.
http://www.rayur.com/

Skin Cancer Organization.
http://www.skincancer.org/

Todays Veterinary Practice.
http://todaysveterinarypractice.navc.com/

Sono Guide.com/renal...
http://www.sonoguide.com/renal.html

Ultrasound Cases.info/ -- Abdomen
http://www.ultrasoundcases.info/category.aspx?cat=63

Ultrasound Connection.
http://ultrasoundconnection.com/

The Ultrasound Gallery of Images.
http://www.ultrasound-images.com/

VetBook Wiki.
http://www.vetbook.org/wiki/

Veterinary News.dvm360.
http://veterinarynews.dvm360.com/

We are the Cure.org.
http://www.wearethecure.org/

WebMD.com/.
http://www.webmd.com/

Wikivet.net/.
http://en.wikivet.net/

Wisegeek.
http://www.wisegeek.com/

It may be NOTED that many of the above websites offer as little as ONE sentence of useful information on a webpage requiring 1% of the storage/downloading space and 5% or less of the Viewing span. Advertisements, many of which are unrelated to the information sought, and links to other pages, also most or all of which are irrelevant, clutter the page. Often, information presented on the page of one organization will be directly duplicated on another page with no reference to its source. They may load slowly, online, as they wait to retrieve advertisements, which may be bad or busy links, before displaying ANY of the page, and, delaying in the copying of any of the information for later reference as per this page, or, saving the page for offline study.