Veterinary Medical Terminology and Abbreviations: Understanding Animal Terms and Directions

1. Chapter 1 Veterinary Medical Terminology and Abbreviations

2. Breaking Down a Term • Break each word into the PREFIX, SUFFIX and ROOT word • Determine each meaning and put into a definition that makes sense • POST/OPERAT/IVE: pertaining to after a surgery • CARDIO/LOGY: the study of the heart • GASTR/ITIS: inflammation of the stomach • OVARIO/HYSTER/ECTOMY: surgical removal of the ovaries and uterus

3. Common Directional Terms • LATERAL: side of the body; toward the outside • DISTAL: away from the center of the body • DORSAL: toward the back of the body (spinal area) • CRANIAL: toward the head of the body • PALMAR: bottom of the front feet • ROSTRAL: toward the nose

4. Common Directional Terms • MEDIAL: toward the inside • PROXIMAL: toward the center of the body • VENTRAL: toward the abdomen of the body (belly) • CAUDAL: toward the tail of the body • PLANTAR: bottom of the back feet • ASPECT: area • RECUMBENT or RECUMBENCY: lying • TRANSVERSE- across an area dividing it into cranial and caudal sections

5. Directional Diagram • A- cranial • B- caudal • C- ventral • D- dorsal • E- rostral • F- proximal • G- distal • H- palmar • I- plantar

6. Species Terms • Canine- dog • Feline- cat • Equine- horse • Bovine- cow • Cavy- guinea pig • Primate- monkeys and apes • Poultry- chickens and turkeys • Murine- rats or mice • Ovine- sheep • Porcine- pig • Caprine- goat • Lagomorph- rabbit • Avian- bird • Reptile- snakes and lizards • Amphibians- frogs and toads • Terrapin- turtle

7. Common Animal Terms: Dogs • Intact: capable of reproduction • Bitch: female adult intact dog • Stud dog: male adult intact dog • Puppy: newborn dog • Litter: a group of newborn dogs • Whelping: the labor process of dogs

8. Common Animal Terms: Cats • Queen: adult female intact cat • Tom: adult male intact cat • Kitten: newborn cat • Queening: the labor process of cats

9. Common Animal Terms: Rabbits • Buck: adult male intact rabbit • Doe: adult female intact rabbit • Lapin: neutered male rabbit • Kit: newborn rabbit • Kindling: labor process of rabbits

10. Common Animal Terms: Ferrets and Guinea Pigs • Jill: intact female ferret • Hob: intact male ferret • Sprite: neutered female ferret • Gib: neutered male ferret • Sow: female intact guinea pig • Boar: male intact guinea pig • Pup: young newborn guinea pig

11. Common Animal Terms: Rats and Mice • Dam: adult female intact rat or mouse • Sire: adult male intact rat or mouse • Pup: young newborn mouse or rat

12. Common Animal Terms: Poultry and Birds • Cock: adult intact male chicken or parrot • Rooster: adult male chicken • Hen: adult female chicken or parrot • Cockerel: immature male chicken • Pullet: immature female chicken • Chick: newborn chicken • Poult: young chicken or turkey • Flock: group of birds • Drake: male duck • Duck: female duck • Duckling: newborn duck

13. Common Animal Terms: Pigs Sow: adult female intact pig Boar: adult male intact pig Barrow: young castrated male pig Stag: adult male castrated pig Gilt: young immature female pig that has not farrowed Piglet: newborn pig Farrowing: labor process of pigs

14. Common Animal Terms: Horses • Stallion: adult male intact horse • Mare: adult female intact horse • Colt: young male horse • Filly: young female horse • Foal: newborn horse • Gelding: castrated male horse • Weanling: young horse under a year of age • Yearling: young horse between 1 and 2 years of age • Herd: group of horses

15. Common Animal Terms: Equine • Horse: equine over 14.2 hands in height • Pony: equine under 14.2 hands in height • Hand: measurement of height that equals 4 inches

16. Common Animal Terms: Equine • Donkey: donkey crossed with a donkey • Hinny: cross of male horse and female donkey • Jack: intact male donkey • Jenny: intact female donkey • Mule: cross of male donkey and female horse

17. Common Animal Terms: Sheep and Goats • Ewe: adult female sheep • Ram: adult male sheep • Lamb: newborn sheep • Lambing: labor process of sheep • Freshening: labor process of dairy animals • Buck: male goat • Doe: female goat • Wether: castrated male goat or sheep • Kid: newborn goat • Kidding: labor process of goats

18. Common Animal Terms: Cattle and Llamas Bull: male cow or llama Cow: female cow or llama Heifer: young female cow that has not been bred Stag: mature castrated male cow Steer: young castrated male cow Calf: newborn cow Calving: labor process of cows and llamas Cria: young llama

19. FLASH CARDS Use flash cards for new veterinary terms learned throughout the course Study 5-10 minutes each day You will learn many veterinary terms and abbreviations in this course to add to your vocabulary list Make terminology FUN!

20. Clinical Situation • Yr • SF • DLH • PE • v/d • WNL • TPR • Wt • Lbs or # • O • BM • CBC • Rads or x-rays • dz • dx • tx • o • Tabs • PO • SID

21. Are you ready for the exam? • Twice a day • By mouth • Surgery • Prescription • Four times a day • History • Diagnosis • Gums • Treatment • Pulse • Biopsy • Positive • Every • Pound • Right ear • Left eye

22. Patient Information • K-9: canine or dog • DLH: domestic long hair (cat) • DSH: domestic short hair (cat) • M: male • F: female • S or SF: spayed or spayed female • NM: neutered male • C or CAST: castrated

23. Patient Information • o: owner • y or yr: year • mo: month • wk: week • d: day • EX: exotic • C-SECT: caesarian section • d/o: drop off • p/u: pick up • d/c: discharge • rec: recommend • S/R: suture removal • Sx- surgery