Certificate in Diagnostic Medical Sonography Practice Exam
Question 1: In Diagnostic Medical Sonography, what is the primary role of sonography in
healthcare?
A. To replace all other imaging modalities
B. To provide real‐time diagnostic images using sound waves
C. To perform surgical procedures
D. To generate X‐ray images
Answer: B
Explanation: Sonography uses high‐frequency sound waves to produce real‐time images, aiding
in diagnosis without ionizing radiation.
Question 2: Which type of sonography exam primarily evaluates the abdominal organs?
A. Obstetric
B. Vascular
C. Abdominal
D. Musculoskeletal
Answer: C
Explanation: Abdominal sonography focuses on imaging organs like the liver, gallbladder,
kidneys, and spleen.
Question 3: What property of ultrasound waves determines the image resolution?
A. Speed
B. Frequency
C. Intensity
D. Amplitude
Answer: B
Explanation: Higher frequency ultrasound waves provide better resolution but lower penetration.
Question 4: Which factor is most critical for patient safety during a sonographic exam?
A. High sound intensity
B. Adherence to safety protocols
C. Extended exam duration
D. Use of contrast agents
Answer: B
Explanation: Following safety protocols minimizes risks and ensures optimal patient care during
examinations.
Question 5: In sonography, ethics primarily involve which of the following?
A. Maximizing exam duration
B. Ensuring patient confidentiality and informed consent
C. Increasing image brightness
,D. Reducing scanning costs
Answer: B
Explanation: Ethical practice in sonography requires maintaining patient confidentiality and
obtaining proper informed consent.
Question 6: What is acoustic impedance?
A. The speed of sound in a medium
B. A measure of resistance to sound wave propagation
C. The intensity of the ultrasound beam
D. The frequency of sound waves
Answer: B
Explanation: Acoustic impedance is a property that influences how sound waves are reflected or
transmitted at tissue interfaces.
Question 7: Which component is essential for both transmitting and receiving ultrasound
waves?
A. The monitor
B. The printer
C. The transducer
D. The keyboard
Answer: C
Explanation: The transducer is the device that converts electrical energy into sound waves and
vice versa.
Question 8: The pulse-echo technique in sonography is used for which purpose?
A. Enhancing image brightness
B. Producing and interpreting images
C. Increasing patient comfort
D. Controlling the exam time
Answer: B
Explanation: The pulse-echo technique involves sending pulses of ultrasound and detecting the
echoes to form images.
Question 9: Which artifact is characterized by a dark area behind a strongly reflecting
interface?
A. Enhancement
B. Shadowing
C. Reverberation
D. Aliasing
Answer: B
Explanation: Shadowing occurs when a structure strongly attenuates the ultrasound beam,
leading to a dark area behind it.
Question 10: What is the purpose of quality control in ultrasound equipment?
A. To reduce patient waiting time
B. To ensure the machine is properly calibrated and functioning
,C. To increase exam fees
D. To modify ultrasound frequencies
Answer: B
Explanation: Quality control ensures accurate and safe performance of ultrasound equipment
through regular calibration and maintenance.
Question 11: Which organ is NOT typically examined during an abdominal sonography
exam?
A. Liver
B. Kidney
C. Heart
D. Gallbladder
Answer: C
Explanation: The heart is evaluated using echocardiography, not standard abdominal
sonography.
Question 12: What scanning technique is critical when performing an abdominal
ultrasound?
A. Using high-frequency transducers exclusively
B. Proper patient positioning and transducer selection
C. Avoiding any movement of the transducer
D. Increasing the power output
Answer: B
Explanation: Correct patient positioning and selecting the appropriate transducer are essential for
optimal imaging in abdominal exams.
Question 13: Which pathology is commonly detected in liver sonography?
A. Fractures
B. Cirrhosis
C. Brain tumors
D. Osteoarthritis
Answer: B
Explanation: Cirrhosis, a chronic liver disease, can be evaluated by characteristic changes in
liver echotexture on ultrasound.
Question 14: How does pediatric abdominal imaging differ from adult imaging?
A. It uses the same settings as adult imaging
B. It requires adjusted settings and considerations due to smaller organ size
C. It does not require patient positioning
D. It is performed exclusively in a surgical suite
Answer: B
Explanation: Pediatric imaging requires modifications to account for smaller size and differences
in tissue composition.
Question 15: In obstetric sonography, what is a primary concern during the early stages of
pregnancy?
, A. Assessing joint function
B. Measuring fetal biometry and confirming viability
C. Evaluating liver function
D. Detecting musculoskeletal injuries
Answer: B
Explanation: Early obstetric sonography focuses on fetal viability, growth, and development
through biometry measurements.
Question 16: What anatomical structure is primarily evaluated in gynecologic sonography?
A. Prostate gland
B. Uterus and ovaries
C. Kidneys
D. Pancreas
Answer: B
Explanation: Gynecologic imaging focuses on female reproductive organs, including the uterus
and ovaries.
Question 17: Which condition can be diagnosed using obstetric ultrasound?
A. Deep vein thrombosis
B. Ectopic pregnancy
C. Carpal tunnel syndrome
D. Appendicitis
Answer: B
Explanation: Ultrasound is the first-line imaging modality for diagnosing ectopic pregnancy by
evaluating the location of the gestational sac.
Question 18: In gynecologic imaging, what is a common sign of fibroids on ultrasound?
A. Anechoic cystic lesions
B. Well-defined hypoechoic masses within the uterus
C. Bright echogenic spots in the liver
D. Dilated blood vessels
Answer: B
Explanation: Uterine fibroids typically appear as well-defined, hypoechoic masses in the uterine
wall.
Question 19: Which ultrasound measurement is essential for assessing fetal growth?
A. Carotid intima-media thickness
B. Biparietal diameter
C. Renal cortical thickness
D. Femur length only
Answer: B
Explanation: The biparietal diameter, along with other measurements, is used to estimate fetal
age and growth.
Question 20: What is the purpose of a biophysical profile in obstetric sonography?
A. To evaluate maternal heart function
Question 1: In Diagnostic Medical Sonography, what is the primary role of sonography in
healthcare?
A. To replace all other imaging modalities
B. To provide real‐time diagnostic images using sound waves
C. To perform surgical procedures
D. To generate X‐ray images
Answer: B
Explanation: Sonography uses high‐frequency sound waves to produce real‐time images, aiding
in diagnosis without ionizing radiation.
Question 2: Which type of sonography exam primarily evaluates the abdominal organs?
A. Obstetric
B. Vascular
C. Abdominal
D. Musculoskeletal
Answer: C
Explanation: Abdominal sonography focuses on imaging organs like the liver, gallbladder,
kidneys, and spleen.
Question 3: What property of ultrasound waves determines the image resolution?
A. Speed
B. Frequency
C. Intensity
D. Amplitude
Answer: B
Explanation: Higher frequency ultrasound waves provide better resolution but lower penetration.
Question 4: Which factor is most critical for patient safety during a sonographic exam?
A. High sound intensity
B. Adherence to safety protocols
C. Extended exam duration
D. Use of contrast agents
Answer: B
Explanation: Following safety protocols minimizes risks and ensures optimal patient care during
examinations.
Question 5: In sonography, ethics primarily involve which of the following?
A. Maximizing exam duration
B. Ensuring patient confidentiality and informed consent
C. Increasing image brightness
,D. Reducing scanning costs
Answer: B
Explanation: Ethical practice in sonography requires maintaining patient confidentiality and
obtaining proper informed consent.
Question 6: What is acoustic impedance?
A. The speed of sound in a medium
B. A measure of resistance to sound wave propagation
C. The intensity of the ultrasound beam
D. The frequency of sound waves
Answer: B
Explanation: Acoustic impedance is a property that influences how sound waves are reflected or
transmitted at tissue interfaces.
Question 7: Which component is essential for both transmitting and receiving ultrasound
waves?
A. The monitor
B. The printer
C. The transducer
D. The keyboard
Answer: C
Explanation: The transducer is the device that converts electrical energy into sound waves and
vice versa.
Question 8: The pulse-echo technique in sonography is used for which purpose?
A. Enhancing image brightness
B. Producing and interpreting images
C. Increasing patient comfort
D. Controlling the exam time
Answer: B
Explanation: The pulse-echo technique involves sending pulses of ultrasound and detecting the
echoes to form images.
Question 9: Which artifact is characterized by a dark area behind a strongly reflecting
interface?
A. Enhancement
B. Shadowing
C. Reverberation
D. Aliasing
Answer: B
Explanation: Shadowing occurs when a structure strongly attenuates the ultrasound beam,
leading to a dark area behind it.
Question 10: What is the purpose of quality control in ultrasound equipment?
A. To reduce patient waiting time
B. To ensure the machine is properly calibrated and functioning
,C. To increase exam fees
D. To modify ultrasound frequencies
Answer: B
Explanation: Quality control ensures accurate and safe performance of ultrasound equipment
through regular calibration and maintenance.
Question 11: Which organ is NOT typically examined during an abdominal sonography
exam?
A. Liver
B. Kidney
C. Heart
D. Gallbladder
Answer: C
Explanation: The heart is evaluated using echocardiography, not standard abdominal
sonography.
Question 12: What scanning technique is critical when performing an abdominal
ultrasound?
A. Using high-frequency transducers exclusively
B. Proper patient positioning and transducer selection
C. Avoiding any movement of the transducer
D. Increasing the power output
Answer: B
Explanation: Correct patient positioning and selecting the appropriate transducer are essential for
optimal imaging in abdominal exams.
Question 13: Which pathology is commonly detected in liver sonography?
A. Fractures
B. Cirrhosis
C. Brain tumors
D. Osteoarthritis
Answer: B
Explanation: Cirrhosis, a chronic liver disease, can be evaluated by characteristic changes in
liver echotexture on ultrasound.
Question 14: How does pediatric abdominal imaging differ from adult imaging?
A. It uses the same settings as adult imaging
B. It requires adjusted settings and considerations due to smaller organ size
C. It does not require patient positioning
D. It is performed exclusively in a surgical suite
Answer: B
Explanation: Pediatric imaging requires modifications to account for smaller size and differences
in tissue composition.
Question 15: In obstetric sonography, what is a primary concern during the early stages of
pregnancy?
, A. Assessing joint function
B. Measuring fetal biometry and confirming viability
C. Evaluating liver function
D. Detecting musculoskeletal injuries
Answer: B
Explanation: Early obstetric sonography focuses on fetal viability, growth, and development
through biometry measurements.
Question 16: What anatomical structure is primarily evaluated in gynecologic sonography?
A. Prostate gland
B. Uterus and ovaries
C. Kidneys
D. Pancreas
Answer: B
Explanation: Gynecologic imaging focuses on female reproductive organs, including the uterus
and ovaries.
Question 17: Which condition can be diagnosed using obstetric ultrasound?
A. Deep vein thrombosis
B. Ectopic pregnancy
C. Carpal tunnel syndrome
D. Appendicitis
Answer: B
Explanation: Ultrasound is the first-line imaging modality for diagnosing ectopic pregnancy by
evaluating the location of the gestational sac.
Question 18: In gynecologic imaging, what is a common sign of fibroids on ultrasound?
A. Anechoic cystic lesions
B. Well-defined hypoechoic masses within the uterus
C. Bright echogenic spots in the liver
D. Dilated blood vessels
Answer: B
Explanation: Uterine fibroids typically appear as well-defined, hypoechoic masses in the uterine
wall.
Question 19: Which ultrasound measurement is essential for assessing fetal growth?
A. Carotid intima-media thickness
B. Biparietal diameter
C. Renal cortical thickness
D. Femur length only
Answer: B
Explanation: The biparietal diameter, along with other measurements, is used to estimate fetal
age and growth.
Question 20: What is the purpose of a biophysical profile in obstetric sonography?
A. To evaluate maternal heart function
