Ultimate ARDMS SPI Study Guide: Unlock
Success with Expertly Crafted Questions,
Comprehensive Solutions, and Detailed
Explanations for Every Exam! Boost Your
Grades with High-Quality Mock Exams!
Which artifact is illustrated by this image?
• a) Shadowing
• b) Side Lobe
• c) Reverberation
• d) Mirroring
Correct Answer: a) Shadowing
Rationale: Shadowing occurs when a strong reflector attenuates the ultrasound
beam, creating a dark area behind it. This artifact is commonly seen behind
calcified structures or bones.
2. What is increased if the pulse duration is decreased?
• a) Bandwidth
• b) Line Density
• c) Frame Rate
• d) Duty Factor
Correct Answer: a) Bandwidth
Rationale: A decrease in pulse duration leads to an increase in bandwidth, as
shorter pulses contain a wider range of frequencies, enhancing image resolution.
3. What is the most appropriate action for the sonographer to take when receiving a verbal
order for an exam?
• a) Deny performance of the exam until a written request is received
, • b) Seek approval from supervisor
• c) Verbally repeat the request back to the referrer to verify correctness
• d) Document two forms of ID of the patient
Correct Answer: a) Deny performance of the exam until a written request is received
Rationale: To ensure proper documentation and patient safety, a sonographer
should not perform an exam based solely on a verbal order. A written request is
necessary to proceed.
4. What is the round trip time in soft tissue for an echo from a reflector at a depth of 1 cm?
• a) 1.54 usec
• b) 6.5 usec
• c) 13 usec
• d) 26 usec
Correct Answer: a) 1.54 usec
Rationale: The round trip time for an echo in soft tissue is calculated using the
formula: time = 2 × depth / speed of sound. In soft tissue, the speed of sound is
approximately 1540 m/s, resulting in a round trip time of about 1.54 microseconds
for a 1 cm depth.
5. What adjustment should be made to avoid the aliasing displayed on this spectral
Doppler image seen on spectral analysis?
• a) Reposition sample volume so it is deeper.
• b) Decrease acoustic power
• c) Change the Doppler angle from 60 to 45 degrees
• d) Decrease the transducer frequency
Correct Answer: a) Reposition sample volume so it is deeper.
Rationale: Repositioning the sample volume deeper can help avoid aliasing by
allowing for higher velocities to be detected within the Nyquist limit.
6. In an unfocused transducer, what is the region between the transducer face and the
point where the beam diverges?
, • a) Side lobe
• b) Focal Zone
• c) Near field
• d) Far field
Correct Answer: c) Near field
Rationale: The near field, also known as the Fresnel zone, is the region closest to the
transducer where the beam is more focused before it diverges into the far field.
7. What caused the color pattern demonstrated in the artery indicated by the arrow in this
image?
• a) Superimposed venous flow
• b) Aliasing
• c) Flow reversal
• d) Color side lobe artifact
Correct Answer: c) Flow reversal
Rationale: Flow reversal in Doppler imaging can produce distinct color patterns,
indicating changes in the direction of blood flow.
8. What technique increases the sharpness of high contrast boundaries?
• a) Edge enhancement
• b) Interpolation
• c) Smoothing
• d) Frame averaging
Correct Answer: a) Edge enhancement
Rationale: Edge enhancement is a processing technique that increases the contrast
at the borders of structures, making them appear sharper in the ultrasound image.
9. Which setting of an ultrasound system gives the sonographer the ability to display both
strong and weak echoes?
, • a) Dynamic range
• b) Resolution
• c) Range calibration
• d) Sensitivity
Correct Answer: a) Dynamic range
Rationale: Dynamic range refers to the range of echo amplitudes that the ultrasound
system can process, allowing for the display of both strong and weak echoes.
10. Which condition must be present for refraction to occur?
• a) Presence of a strong specular reflector
• b) Presence of several small reflectors
• c) Difference in tissue prop speeds
• d) A change in the angle of reflection
Correct Answer: c) Difference in tissue prop speeds
Rationale: Refraction occurs when there is a change in the speed of sound in
different tissues, leading to bending of the ultrasound beam.
11. In this image, most of the blood flow is in which direction?
• a) Right to left
• b) Left to right
• c) Bidirectional
• d) Indeterminate
Correct Answer: a) Right to left
Rationale: The direction of blood flow is typically indicated by color flow Doppler,
and the specific color shown in the image will help determine the flow direction.
12. If red blood cells are approaching a 5 MHz Doppler transducer at a speed of 75 cm/s,
what is the appropriate received ultrasound frequency?
• a) 4,500 kHz
Success with Expertly Crafted Questions,
Comprehensive Solutions, and Detailed
Explanations for Every Exam! Boost Your
Grades with High-Quality Mock Exams!
Which artifact is illustrated by this image?
• a) Shadowing
• b) Side Lobe
• c) Reverberation
• d) Mirroring
Correct Answer: a) Shadowing
Rationale: Shadowing occurs when a strong reflector attenuates the ultrasound
beam, creating a dark area behind it. This artifact is commonly seen behind
calcified structures or bones.
2. What is increased if the pulse duration is decreased?
• a) Bandwidth
• b) Line Density
• c) Frame Rate
• d) Duty Factor
Correct Answer: a) Bandwidth
Rationale: A decrease in pulse duration leads to an increase in bandwidth, as
shorter pulses contain a wider range of frequencies, enhancing image resolution.
3. What is the most appropriate action for the sonographer to take when receiving a verbal
order for an exam?
• a) Deny performance of the exam until a written request is received
, • b) Seek approval from supervisor
• c) Verbally repeat the request back to the referrer to verify correctness
• d) Document two forms of ID of the patient
Correct Answer: a) Deny performance of the exam until a written request is received
Rationale: To ensure proper documentation and patient safety, a sonographer
should not perform an exam based solely on a verbal order. A written request is
necessary to proceed.
4. What is the round trip time in soft tissue for an echo from a reflector at a depth of 1 cm?
• a) 1.54 usec
• b) 6.5 usec
• c) 13 usec
• d) 26 usec
Correct Answer: a) 1.54 usec
Rationale: The round trip time for an echo in soft tissue is calculated using the
formula: time = 2 × depth / speed of sound. In soft tissue, the speed of sound is
approximately 1540 m/s, resulting in a round trip time of about 1.54 microseconds
for a 1 cm depth.
5. What adjustment should be made to avoid the aliasing displayed on this spectral
Doppler image seen on spectral analysis?
• a) Reposition sample volume so it is deeper.
• b) Decrease acoustic power
• c) Change the Doppler angle from 60 to 45 degrees
• d) Decrease the transducer frequency
Correct Answer: a) Reposition sample volume so it is deeper.
Rationale: Repositioning the sample volume deeper can help avoid aliasing by
allowing for higher velocities to be detected within the Nyquist limit.
6. In an unfocused transducer, what is the region between the transducer face and the
point where the beam diverges?
, • a) Side lobe
• b) Focal Zone
• c) Near field
• d) Far field
Correct Answer: c) Near field
Rationale: The near field, also known as the Fresnel zone, is the region closest to the
transducer where the beam is more focused before it diverges into the far field.
7. What caused the color pattern demonstrated in the artery indicated by the arrow in this
image?
• a) Superimposed venous flow
• b) Aliasing
• c) Flow reversal
• d) Color side lobe artifact
Correct Answer: c) Flow reversal
Rationale: Flow reversal in Doppler imaging can produce distinct color patterns,
indicating changes in the direction of blood flow.
8. What technique increases the sharpness of high contrast boundaries?
• a) Edge enhancement
• b) Interpolation
• c) Smoothing
• d) Frame averaging
Correct Answer: a) Edge enhancement
Rationale: Edge enhancement is a processing technique that increases the contrast
at the borders of structures, making them appear sharper in the ultrasound image.
9. Which setting of an ultrasound system gives the sonographer the ability to display both
strong and weak echoes?
, • a) Dynamic range
• b) Resolution
• c) Range calibration
• d) Sensitivity
Correct Answer: a) Dynamic range
Rationale: Dynamic range refers to the range of echo amplitudes that the ultrasound
system can process, allowing for the display of both strong and weak echoes.
10. Which condition must be present for refraction to occur?
• a) Presence of a strong specular reflector
• b) Presence of several small reflectors
• c) Difference in tissue prop speeds
• d) A change in the angle of reflection
Correct Answer: c) Difference in tissue prop speeds
Rationale: Refraction occurs when there is a change in the speed of sound in
different tissues, leading to bending of the ultrasound beam.
11. In this image, most of the blood flow is in which direction?
• a) Right to left
• b) Left to right
• c) Bidirectional
• d) Indeterminate
Correct Answer: a) Right to left
Rationale: The direction of blood flow is typically indicated by color flow Doppler,
and the specific color shown in the image will help determine the flow direction.
12. If red blood cells are approaching a 5 MHz Doppler transducer at a speed of 75 cm/s,
what is the appropriate received ultrasound frequency?
• a) 4,500 kHz
