Define Veterinary Medical Terminology Flashcards

ventral the belly or underside of a body cranial toward the head anterior front of the body rostral nose end of the head cephalic pertaining to the head medial toward the midline superior uppermost, above, or toward the head proximal nearest the midline or nearest the beginning of a structure superficial near the surface; also called external palmar the caudal surface of the manus (front paw) including the carpus (from the antebrachial joint distally) dorsal to the back caudal towards the tail posterior rear end of the body caudal toward the tail lateral away from the midline inferior lowermost, below, or toward the tail distal farthest from the midline or farthest from the beginning of a structure deep away from the surface; also called internal plantar means the caudal surface of the pes (rear paw) including the tarsus (from the tibiotarsal joint distally) midsagittal plane plane that divides the body into equal right and left halves; also called median; it is also called midline sagittal plane plane that divides the body into unequal right and left parts dorsal plane the plane that divides the body into dorsal (back) and ventral (belly) parts; also called frontal plane or coronal plane transverse plane the plane that divides the body into cranial and caudal parts; also called horizontal plane or cross-sectional plane anatomy the study of body structure physiology the study of the body function(s) pathophysiology the study of changes in function caused by disease etiology the study of disease arcade term used to describe how teeth are arranged in the mouth lingual surface the aspect of the tooth that faces the tongue palatal surface the tooth surface of the maxilla that faces the tongue on both the maxilla (upper jaw) and mandible (lower jaw) buccal surface the aspect of the tooth that faces the cheek; also called vestibular surface occlusal surfaces the aspects of the teeth that meet when you chew labial surface the tooth surface facing the lips contact surfaces the aspects of the tooth that touch other teeth mesial surface the contact surface closest to the midline of the dental arcade or arch distal surface the contact surface is the one that is furthest from the midline of the dental arcade 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 also called 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 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 system organs formed by the pelvic bones abdomen the portion of the body between the thorax and the pelvis containing the abdominal cavity thorax chest region located between the neck and diaphragm groin lower region of the abdomen adjacent to the thigh; also known as the inguinal area membranes thin layers of tissue that cover a surface, line a cavity, or divide a space or organ peritoneum the membrane lining the walls of the abdominal and pelvic cavities and covers some organs in this area parietal peritoneum the outer layer of the peritoneum that lines the abdominal and pelvic cavities visceral peritoneum inner layer of the peritoneum that surrounds the abdominal organs umbilicus the pit in the abdominal wall marking the point where the umbilical cord entered the fetus; also called the navel mesentery the layer of the peritoneum that suspends parts of the intestine in the abdominal cavity retroperitoneal superficial to the peritoneum recumbent lying down dorsal recumbency lying on the back ventral recumbency or sternal recumbency lying on the belly left lateral recumbency lying on the left side right lateral recumbency lying on the right side adduction movement toward the midline abduction movement away from the midline flexion closure of a joint angle, or reduction of the angel between two bones extension straightening of a joint or an increase in the angle between two bones hyperflexion palmar or plantar movement of the joint angles hyperextension occurs when the joint is flexed or extended too far supination the act of rotating the limb or body part so that the palmar surface is turned upward pronation the act of rotating the limb or body part so that the palmar surface is turned townward rotation circular movement around an axis cytology the study of cells protoplasm the cell membrane, cytoplasm and nucleus cytoplasm the material located within the cell membrane that is not part of the nucleus nucleus structure of a cell that contains nucleoplasm, chromosomes, and the surrounding membrane nucleoplasm the material in the nucleus chromosomes the structures in the nucleus composed of DNA, which transmits genetic information genetic disorder any disease or condition caused by defective genes and is inherited congenital something that is present at birth anomaly a deviation from what is regarded as normal tissue a group of specialized cells that are similar in structure and function histology the study of the structure, composition, and function of tissue epithelial tissue tissue that covers internal and external body surfaces and is made up of tightly packed cells in a variety of arrangements epithelium the cellular covering that forms the outer layer of the skin and covers the external surfaces of the body endothelium the cellular covering that forms the lining of the internal organs including the blood vessels mesothelium the cellular covering that forms the lining of serous membranes such as the peritoneum