CCVTC study plan
CCVTC · Give each week a clear focus.
8 weeks · About 7 hours per week
Cardiac Anatomy and Physiology
Label the cardiac chambers, septa, and valves on a blank heart diagram from memory
Trace normal blood flow through the heart and great vessels in sequence, naming each structure passed
Explain the cardiac cycle phases and correlate each with valve opening/closing events
Describe coronary artery anatomy and the perfusion territory of each major vessel
Your checkpoint
A hand-drawn, fully labeled heart diagram plus a one-page written walkthrough of the cardiac cycle that you can explain aloud without notes
Cardiac Anatomy and Physiology
Describe the conduction system pathway from SA node to Purkinje fibers and the mechanical consequence of each step
Relate pressure-volume loop segments to systolic and diastolic function
Explain how preload, afterload, and contractility change stroke volume
Calculate ejection fraction and fractional shortening from given chamber dimensions
Your checkpoint
A completed problem set of 10 EF/FS calculations with worked steps and a labeled pressure-volume loop annotated with all four phases
Extracardiac and Thoracic Anatomy and Physiology
Identify the great vessels, their branching order, and their spatial relationships to the heart
Map the thoracic windows (parasternal, apical, subcostal, suprasternal) to the structures each best visualizes
Describe lung, pleura, and mediastinal anatomy relevant to avoiding artifact and recognizing adjacent structures
Explain respiratory variation in venous return and its effect on Doppler measurements
Your checkpoint
A window-to-structure reference table listing each acoustic window, the structures seen, and one clinical pitfall per window
Echocardiography Instrumentation and Principles
Explain how transducer frequency, resolution, and penetration trade off when selecting a probe
Describe the physics of pulsed, continuous, and color Doppler and when each is appropriate
Identify common artifacts (shadowing, reverberation, side lobe, aliasing) and state a corrective action for each
Explain gain, depth, focus, and Nyquist limit adjustments and their effect on image quality
Your checkpoint
A one-page artifact troubleshooting flowchart mapping each artifact to its cause and a concrete machine adjustment
Cardiac and Thoracic Sonographic Evaluation
Perform and describe the standard parasternal long- and short-axis views, naming structures and correct probe orientation
Describe the apical four-, two-, and three-chamber views and the segments each displays
Explain how to obtain and interpret subcostal and suprasternal views
State the measurement conventions for chamber dimensions, wall thickness, and aortic root
Your checkpoint
A written protocol checklist for all standard views including probe position, orientation marker, structures confirmed, and required measurements
Cardiac and Thoracic Sonographic Evaluation & Pathology and Disease States
Interpret given case vignettes to identify normal versus abnormal chamber size and wall motion
Describe the echocardiographic findings of the major valve diseases and their hemodynamic consequences
Explain how to recognize pericardial effusion and signs of tamponade on given descriptions
Correlate Doppler patterns with diastolic dysfunction grades and state the supporting measurements
Your checkpoint
A case workbook of 8 vignettes where you state the likely diagnosis, the supporting echo findings, and the next measurement you would obtain
Pathology and Disease States & Patient Care, Safety, and Ethics
Differentiate the echo appearance of common cardiomyopathies and congenital lesions from given descriptions
Apply patient safety practices including thermal index, mechanical index, and the ALARA principle to scenario prompts
Describe infection control, patient positioning, and ergonomic practices for sonographers
Explain informed consent, privacy, and scope-of-practice boundaries in scenario-based questions
Your checkpoint
A safety-and-ethics decision guide covering at least 10 scenario prompts with the correct action and the governing principle for each
Cardiac Anatomy and Physiology & Echocardiography Instrumentation and Principles & Cardiac and Thoracic Sonographic Evaluation & Pathology and Disease States
Complete a timed 100-question mixed-domain practice set and score each domain separately
Re-teach your three weakest topics from memory in writing without reference material
Review every missed question and record the underlying concept, not just the correct answer
Build a one-page formula and normal-values sheet covering EF, FS, Doppler, and chamber measurements
Your checkpoint
A domain-scored practice exam report with a remediation list of your three weakest concepts and a completed one-page formula sheet
Milestones
Week 2: Explain the cardiac cycle and conduction system aloud from a blank diagram with no reference material, and correctly solve 8 of 10 EF/FS calculations
Week 4: Correctly match all four acoustic windows to their visualized structures and name a corrective action for at least four imaging artifacts
Week 6: Achieve at least 70% on a 40-question mixed set drawn from Domains 1, 3, and 4, with every missed item traced to a named concept
Week 8: Score at least 75% overall on the timed 100-question practice exam with no single domain below 65%