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Ch. 2 Where/Why/What
Veterinary Medical Terminology
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Midsagittal Plane (Median/Midline) | the plane that divides the body into equal right and left halves |
| Sagittal Plane | the plane that divides the body into unequal right and left parts |
| Dorsal Plane (Frontal, Coronal) | the plane that divides the body into dorsal (back) and ventral (belly) parts |
| Transverse Plane (Horizontal, Cross-sectional) | the palne that divides the body into cranial and caudal parts |
| Ventral | refers to the belly or underside of a body or body part |
| Dorsal | refers to the back |
| Cranial | towards the head |
| Caudal | towards the tail |
| Anterior | front of the body (used for organs or body parts) |
| Posterior | rear of the body (used for organs of body parts) |
| Rostral | towards the nose end of the head |
| Medial | towards the midline |
| Lateral | away from the midline |
| Superior | uppermost, above, or towards the head (used more in bipeds) |
| Inferior | means lowermost, below, or toward the tail (used more in bipeds) |
| Proximal | nearest the midline or nearest to the beginning of a structure |
| Distal | farthest from the midline or farthest from the beginning of a stucture |
| Superficial | near the surface |
| Deep | away from the surface |
| Palmar | the caudal surface of the manus (front paw) including the carpus (from the antebrachial joint distally) |
| Plantar | the caudal surface of the pes (rear paw) including the tarsus (from the tibiotarsal joint distally) |
| -ology | study of |
| Anatomy | the study of body stucture |
| Physiology | the study of body functions |
| Physi/o- | nature |
| Pathology | the study of the nature, causes, and development of abnormal conditions |
| Path/o- | disease |
| Pathophysiology | the study of changes in function caused by disease |
| Etiology | the study of disease causes |
| Eti/o- | cause of |
| -logist | a specialist |
| Cardiologist | a heart specialist |
| dermat/o- | skin |
| Dermatologist | a skin specialist |
| Dental Arcade | term used to describe how teeth are arranged in the the mouth |
| Arcade | a series of arches |
| Lingual Surface | the aspect of the tooth that faces the tongue |
| Maxilla | upper jaw |
| Mandible | lower jaw |
| Palatal Surface | the tooth surface of the maxilla that faces the tongue |
| Buccal Surface (Vestibular Surface) | the aspect of the tooth that faces the cheek |
| Occusal Surface | the aspects of the teeth that meet when the animal chews |
| Labial Surface | the tooth surface facing the lips |
| Contact Surfaces | the aspects of the tooth that touch other teeth |
| Mesial | surface closest to the midline |
| Distal | surface furthest from the midline |
| Cavity | hole or hollow space in the body that contains and protects internal organs |
| Cranial Cavity | hollow space that contains the brain in the skull |
| Spinal Cavity | hollow space that contains the spinal cord within the spinal column |
| Thoracic Cavity (Chest Cavity) | hollow space that contains the heart and lungs within the ribs between the neck and diaphragm |
| Abdominal Cavity | hollow space that contains the major organs of digestion located between the diaphragm and pelvic cavity |
| Peritoneal Cavity | hollow space within the abdominal cavity between the parietal peritoneum and the visceral peritoneum |
| Pelvic Cavity | hollow space that contains the reproductive and some excretory systems |
| Abdomen | the portion of the body between the thorax and pelvis |
| Thorax | the chest region located between the neck and the diaphragm |
| Groin (Inguinal Area) | the caudal region of the abdomen adjacent to the thigh |
| Membranes | thin layers of tissue that covers a surface, line a cavity, or divide a space or an organ |
| Peritoneum | the membrane lining the walls of the abdominal and pelvic cavities and covers some organs in the area |
| Parietal Peritoneum | outer layer of the peritoneum that lines the abdominal and pelvic cavities |
| Visceral Peritoneum | inner layer of the peritoneum that surrounds the abdominal organs |
| Peritonitis | inflammation of the peritoneum |
| Umbilicus (Navel) | the pit in the abdominal wall marking the point where the umbilical cord entered the fetus |
| Mesentery | the layer of the peritoneum that suspends parts of the intestine in the abdominal cavity |
| Retroperitoneal | superficial to the peritoneum |
| Recumbent | the only term you can use to mean "laying down" |
| Dorsal Recumbency | lying on the back |
| Ventral Recumbency (Sternal Recumbency) | Lying on the belly, or sternum |
| Left Lateral Recumbency | lying on the left side |
| Right Lateral Recumbency | Lying on the right side |
| Prone | lying in ventral or sternal recumbency |
| Supine | lying in dorsal recumbency |
| Adduction | movement towards the midline |
| Abduction | movement away from the midline |
| Flexion | closure of a joint, reduction in angle between 2 bones |
| Extension | straightening of a joint, increase in angle between 2 bones |
| Hyperflexion | a joint that is flexed too far |
| Hyperextension | a joint that is extended too far |
| Supination | act of rotating the limb or body part so that the palmar surface is turned upward |
| Pronation | the act of rotating limb or body part so that the palmar surface is turned downward |
| Rotation | term of movement that means circular movement around an axis |
| Cyt/o- | cell |
| Cytology | study of cells |
| Protoplasm | the cell membrane, cytoplasm, and nucleus colectively |
| Cell Membrane (Plasma Membrane) | the structure lining the cell that protects the cell's contents and regulates what goes in and out of the cell |
| Cytoplasm | the gelatinous material in the cell membrane that is not part of the nucleus |
| Nucleus | the structure in a cell that contains Nucleoplasm, Chromosomes, and surrounding membrane |
| Nucleoplasm | material in the nucleus |
| Chromosomes | structures in the nucleus composed of DNA that transmits genetic information |
| Genetic Disorder | any inherited disease or condition caused by defective genes |
| Congenital | something that is present at birth |
| Anomaly | deviation from what is regarded as normal (used instead of defect) |
| Tissue | a group of specialized cells that is similar in structure and function |
| Histology | the study of the structure, composition, and function of tissue |
| Hist/o- | tissue |
| Epithelial Tissue (Epithelium) | covers internal and external body surfaces and is made up of tightly packed cells in a variety of arrangements |
| Epi- | above |
| Endothelium | cellular covering that forms the lining of the internal organs, including blood vessels (part of the Epithelium) |
| Mesothelium | the cellular covering that forms the lining of serious membranes such as the peritoneum (part of the Epithelium) |
| Meso- | Middle |
| Connective Tissue | adds support and structure to the body by holding the organs in place and binding body parts together |
| Adipose Tissue | fat, connective tissue |
| Adip/o- | fat |
| Muscle Tissue | tissue that contains cell material with the specialized ability to contract and relax |
| Nervous Tissue | contains cells with the specialized ability to react to stimuli and conduct electrical impulses |
| -plasia | describes formation, development, and growth in the number of cells in an organ or tissue |
| -trophy | formation, development, and growth in the size of an organ or a tissue or individual cell |
| Anaplasia | a change in the structure of cells and their orientation to each other. |
| Aplasia | lack of development of an organ or a tissue or a cell |
| Dysplasia | an abnormal growth or development of an organ or a tissue or a cell |
| Hyperplasia | an abnormal increase in the number of normal cells in normal arrangement in an organ or tissue |
| Hypoplasia | incomplete or less than normal development of an organ or a tissue or cell |
| Neoplasia | any abnormal new growth of tissue in which multiplication of cells is uncontrolled, more rapid than normal, and progressive (tumor) |
| Tumor | a benign (not reoccuring) or malignant (tending to spread, life threatening) mass of abnormal tissue |
| -oma | tumor or neoplasm |
| Atrophy | decrease in size or complete wasting of an organ or tissue or cell |
| Dystropy | defective growth in the size of an organ or tissue or cell |
| Hypertrophy | increase in the size of an organ to tissue of cell |
| Glands | groups of specialized cells that secrete material used elsewhere in the body |
| Aden/o- | gland |
| Exocrine Glands | groups of cells that secrete their chemical substances into ducts that lead out of the body or another organ |
| Endocrine Glands | a group of cells that secrete their chemical substances directly into the bloodstream, which transports them throughout the body |
| Organ | a part of the body that performs a special function or functions |
| Bicornuate Uterus | Uterus with 2 horns |
| Unilateral | Pertaining to 1 side |
| Bilateral | Pertaining to 2 sides |
| Oste/o-, Oss/e-, Oss/i- | Bones |
| Arthr/o- | Joints |
| Chondr/o- | Cartilage |
| My/o- | Muscles |
| Fasc/i-, Fasci/o- | Fascia |
| Ten/o-, Tend/o-, Tendin/o- | Tendons |
| Cardi/o- | Heart |
| Arteri/o- | Arteries |
| Ven/o-, phleb/o- | Veins |
| Hem/o-, Hemat/o- | Blood |
| Lymph/o- | Lymph vessels, fluid, nodes |
| Tonsill/o- | Tonsils |
| Splen/o- | Spleen |
| Thym/o- | Thymus |
| Nas/o-, Rhin/o- | Nose or nares |
| Pharyng/o- | Pharynx |
| Trache/o- | Trachea |
| Laryng/o- | Larynx |
| Pneum/o-, Pneumon/o-, Pulm/o-, Pulmon/o- | Lungs |
| Or/o-, Stomat/o | Mouth |
| Esophag/o- | Esophagus |
| Gastr/o- | Stomach |
| Enter/o- | Small intestine |
| Col/o-, Colon/o- | Large intestine |
| Hepat/o- | Liver |
| Pancreat/o | Pancreas |
| Ren/o-, Nephr/o- | Kidneys |
| Ureter/o- | Ureters |
| Cyst/o- | Urinary bladder |
| Urethr/o- | Urethra |
| Neur/o-, Neur/i- | Nerves |
| Encephal/o- | Brain |
| Ophthalm/o-, Ocul/o-, Opt/o-, Opt/i- | Eyes |
| Optic/o- | Sight |
| Ot/o-, Audit/o-, Aud/i- | Ears |
| Aur/i-, Aur/o- | External Ear |
| Dermat/o-, Derm/o-, Cutane/o- | Skin |
| Adren/o- | Adrenals |
| Gonad/o- | Gonads |
| Pineal/o- | Pineal |
| Pituit/o- | Pituitary |
| Thyroid/o-, Thyr/o- | Thyroid |
| Orch/o-, Orch/i-, Orchid/o-, Testicul/o- | Testes |
| Ovari/o-, Oophor/o- | Ovaries |
| Hyster/o-, Metr/o-, Metr/i-, Metri/o-, Uter/o- | Uterus |
| Uni- | One |
| Mono- | One |
| Duo-, Bi- | Two |
| Dyo- | Two |
| Tri- | Three |
| Quadri-, Quadro | Four |
| Tetr-, Tetra | Four |
| Quinqu-, Quint- | Five |
| Pent-, Penta | Five |
| Sex- | Six |
| Hex-, Hexa- | Six |
| Sept-, Septi- | Seven |
| Hept-, Hepta- | Seven |
| Octo- | Eight |
| Oct-, Octa-, Octo- | Eight |
| Novem-, Nonus- | Nine |
| Ennea- | Nine |
| Deca-, Decem- | Ten |
| Dek-, Deka- | Ten |