School: Medical and Health Sciences

This unit information may be updated and amended immediately prior to semester. To ensure you have the correct outline, please check it again at the beginning of semester.

  • Unit Title

    Upper Abdominal Ultrasound
  • Unit Code

    SON2201
  • Year

    2025
  • Enrolment Period

    1
  • Version

    2
  • Credit Points

    30
  • Full Year Unit

    N
  • Mode of Delivery

    On Campus
  • Unit Coordinator

    Dr Afrooz NAJAFZADEH ABRIZ

Description

This unit focuses on the theoretical components and practical scanning skills of the upper abdominal organs, exploring normal anatomical variants and pathophysiology. Professional attributes and skills will be developed, including respectful and professional communication with patients and colleagues, working collaboratively with autonomy and accountability. Students work collaboratively with peers to analyse real-world case studies and further develop their ability to convey information clearly, concisely and accurately with others. Emphasis is placed on the development of self-management, accountability and responsibility capabilities when working in healthcare teams and communicating respectfully with patients and clients from diverse backgrounds.

Prerequisite Rule

Student must have passed Ultrasound Physics and Instruments (SON2101) and Ultrasound Superficial Structures and Small Parts (SON2102) and Renal and Pelvic Ultrasound (SON2103) before enrolling into this unit.

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this unit students should be able to:

  1. Identify the upper abdominal organs in paediatric patients and adults using ultrasound imaging.
  2. Discuss the impact of age, gender and ethnicity upon the prevalence of disease of the upper abdominal organs, with particular reference to diverse Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
  3. Demonstrate safe operation of ultrasound scanning systems for solid upper abdominal organs including FAST scan with minimal supervision in simulated environments.
  4. Apply self-management and organisation skills to contribute meaningfully to the shared goals of healthcare teams.

Unit Content

  1. Anatomy, physiology, aetiology and pathophysiology of upper abdominal organs related to age, sex and ethnicity.
  2. Practical scanning skills of upper abdominal organs: clinical indication, common scanning protocols and scanning techniques.
  3. Safe operation of ultrasound equipment.
  4. Work collaboratively as part of a health team.
  5. Demonstrate autonomy and accountability.

Learning Experience

Students will attend on campus classes as well as engage in learning activities through ECU's LMS

JoondalupMount LawleySouth West (Bunbury)
Semester 29 x 3 hour labNot OfferedNot Offered

For more information see the Semester Timetable

Additional Learning Experience Information

Students will develop competence in ultrasound scanning systems in a simulated environment, and competence will be assessed at a novice level (as described by the Australian Sonographers Accreditation Registry Professional Competency Standards). Regular tests throughout the semester will assess students’ understanding of abdominal pathology and their ultrasound scanning techniques and appearances. Learning activities encourage self-awareness and reflection to support career readiness and lifelong learning.

Assessment

GS1 GRADING SCHEMA 1 Used for standard coursework units

Students please note: The marks and grades received by students on assessments may be subject to further moderation. All marks and grades are to be considered provisional until endorsed by the relevant School Progression Panel.

ON CAMPUS
TypeDescriptionValue
TestKnowledge Tests40%
Viva ^Scanning skills assessment incorporating simulated professional and respectful interaction with patient(s).30%
ReportWritten report on common abdominal pathologies30%

^ Mandatory to Pass


Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005)

For the purposes of considering a request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005), inherent requirements for this subject are articulated in the Unit Description, Learning Outcomes and Assessment Requirements of this entry. The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the support for students with disabilities or medical conditions can be found at the Access and Inclusion website.

Assessment

Students please note: The marks and grades received by students on assessments may be subject to further moderation. Informal vivas may be conducted as part of an assessment task, where staff require further information to confirm the learning outcomes have been met. All marks and grades are to be considered provisional until endorsed by the relevant School Progression Panel.

Academic Integrity

Integrity is a core value at Edith Cowan University, and it is expected that ECU students complete their assessment tasks honestly and with acknowledgement of other people's work as well as any generative artificial intelligence tools that may have been used. This means that assessment tasks must be completed individually (unless it is an authorised group assessment task) and any sources used must be referenced.

Breaches of academic integrity can include:

Plagiarism

Copying the words, ideas or creative works of other people or generative artificial intelligence tools, without referencing in accordance with stated University requirements. Students need to seek approval from the Unit Coordinator within the first week of study if they intend to use some of their previous work in an assessment task (self-plagiarism).

Unauthorised collaboration (collusion)

Working with other students and submitting the same or substantially similar work or portions of work when an individual submission was required. This includes students knowingly providing others with copies of their own work to use in the same or similar assessment task(s).

Contract cheating

Organising a friend, a family member, another student or an external person or organisation (e.g. through an online website) to complete or substantially edit or refine part or all of an assessment task(s) on their behalf.

Cheating in an exam

Using or having access to unauthorised materials in an exam or test.

Serious outcomes may be imposed if a student is found to have committed one of these breaches, up to and including expulsion from the University for repeated or serious acts.

ECU's policies and more information about academic integrity can be found on the student academic integrity website.

All commencing ECU students are required to complete the Academic Integrity Module.

Assessment Extension

In some circumstances, Students may apply to their Unit Coordinator to extend the due date of their Assessment Task(s) in accordance with ECU's Assessment, Examination and Moderation Procedures - for more information visit https://askus2.ecu.edu.au/s/article/000001386.

Special Consideration

Students may apply for Special Consideration in respect of a final unit grade, where their achievement was affected by Exceptional Circumstances as set out in the Assessment, Examination and Moderation Procedures - for more information visit https://askus2.ecu.edu.au/s/article/000003318.

SON2201|2|1