Vocab Principles and practice of Veterinary Technology

Abduction

Movement of a limb or part away from the median line or middle of the body.

Abrasion

An injury in which the epithelium is removed from the tissue surface.

Absolute value

The number of each type of leukocyte in peripheral blood; calculated by multiplying the relative percentage from the differential count by the total white blood cell count.

Absorption

The movement of drug molecules from the site of administration into the systemic circulation.

Academy

Establishes its own bylaws, leaders, application committee, testing committee, and credentialing committee, testing only those candidates who meet specific requirements.

Acariasis

Infestation with mites.

Accuracy

The closeness with which test results agree with the true quantitative value of the constituent.

Acid-fat

A staining procedure for demonstrating presence of microorganisms that are not readily decolorized by acid after staining; characteristic of certain bacteria, particularly mycobacterium and nocardia.

Acidosis

A condition in which the blood pH is less than 7.35.

ACTH stimulation

Test designed to evaluate the response of the hormone that stimulates adrenocortical growth and secretion.

Activated clotting time

A test of the intrinsic and common pathways of blood coagulation that uses a diatomaceous earth tube to initiate clotting.

Active immunity

An animal's production of antibody as a result of infection with an antigen or immunization.

Acupressure

Use of finger pressure instead of needles on acupoints along body meridians.

Acupuncture

Placing of small, sharp, sterile needles into specific points on the body.

Ad libitum

Free choice, as much as desired.

Ad libitum feeding

Offering food at all times so the animal can eat at its leisure.

Adaptive immunity

A component of the immune system that responds to specific antigens.

Adduction

Movement of a limb or part toward the median line or middle of the body.

Aerobic

In the presence of oxygen.

Aerosolized

The form of ultramicroscopic solid or liquid particles dispersed or suspended in air or gas.

Agammaglobulinemic

Without immunoglobulins.

Agar

A seaweed extract used to solidify culture media.

Aggulation

Clumping of particles.

Aggression

Behavior that is intended to harm another individual.

Agonist

A chemical substance that can combine with a cell receptor and cause a reaction or create an active site.

Agonistic

Behaviors shown in situations of social conflict to diffuse aggressive behavior.

Agranulocyte

White blood cell group that has no visible cytoplasmic granules.

Air sacs

In avian species; nine thin, transparent membranes that are connected to the primary and secondary bronchi and act as reservoirs for air entering and leaving the lungs.

ALARA

As Low As Reasonably Achievable; a program in place by the National Committee on Radiation Protection that ensures that radiation exposures are as low as possible by wearing of safety protection and use of non-manual restraint for veterinary patient.

Albumin

A group of plasma proteins that comprises the majority of protein in plasma.

Alcohol

Disinfectant that must remain in contact with the site for 15 to 20 minutes so as to be effective.

Alkaline phosphates

A group of enzymes that functions at alkaline pH and catalyzes reactions of organic phosphates.

Alkalosis

A condition in which the blood pH is higher than 7.45.

Allergen

An antigen that evokes an allergic or hypersensitivity reaction.

Allopathic medicine

Another term used to describe Western medicine.

Alopecia

Loss of hair.

Alpha hemolysis

Characterized by partial destruction of blood cells on a blood agar; evident as a greenish zone around the bacterial colony.

Alphanumeric system

A dental charting system that identifies each tooth with letters that directly correlate with the type of tooth and numbers that correlate to the placement of the tooth in the dental arcade.

ALT

Alanina aminotransferase; cytoplasmic enzyme of hepatocytes released when hepatocytes are damaged.

Alternative therpies

Practices that deviate from the Western approach.

Alveolus

Tiny grape-like clusters of hin cells, the site of gas exchange in the lungs.

American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA)

An organization that has set standards for veterinary practice facilities. Approximately 3000 veterinary hospitals hold AAHA accreditation designation.

American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS)

Organization founded in 1950 and dedicated to the humane care and treatment of laboratory animals and quality research that leads to scientific gains that benefit people and animals.

American Society for the prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA)

Organization founded by Henry Bergh in 1866 to enforce animal anti-cruelty laws.

American Veterinary Medical Association/ Professional Liability Insurance Trust

Company that provides service that protects the assets and reputations of the participants and enhances the image of the profession. May, in the near future, offer professional insurance to technicians.

Amylase

Enzyme derived primarily from the pancreas that functions in the breakdown of starch.

Anaerobic

In the absence of oxygen.

Analgesia

Pain relief, in the form of oral, transdermal, or injectable medication; the inability to feel pain while still conscious.

Analgesics

Drugs that reduce the perception of pain without loss of other sensations.

Anamnesis

Information gained from the patient and others regarding the patient's medical history.

Anaphylaxis

A severe hypersensitivity reaction characterized by profound hypotension, pulmonary edema, and collapse, caused by massive exposure to an antigen.

Anatomic timed scrub

Surgical personnel preparation accomplished by repeating scrub protocol for 5 minutes.

Anechoic

Used to describe a tissue that does not reflect ultrasound waves back to the transducer.

Anemia

Reduction in the oxygen carrying capacity of blood because of a reduced number of circulating red blood cells, reduced packed cell volume, or a reduced concentration of hemoglobin.

Anesthesia

Loss of feeling or awareness. Literally means no feeling and may be local, regional, spinal/epidural, or general.

Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors

Medications that block the angiotensin-converting enzyme and prevent formation of angiotensin II and aldosterone.

Angiotibes

Large crushing instrument used to clamp blood vessels.

Animal model

An animal hose anatomy and/or physiology make it suitable for studying a specific human disease.

Animal Welfare Act

Federal law in the United States that regulates the treatment of animals in research, exhibition, and transport and by dealers. Other laws, policies, and guidelines may include additional species coverage or specifications for animal care and use, but all refer to the Animal Welfare Act as the minimum acceptable standard.

Anion

Negatively charged ion.

Anisocoria

Uneven pupil size.

Anisodactyl

The foot shape of passerines; three toes point forward and one toe points to the rear.

Anisokaryosis

Variation in the size of the nuclei in cells of a sample.

Anisonucleoliosis

Variation in size of nucleoli.

Annular array

Type of transductor with the crystals in concentric rings.

Anode

A positively charged electrode within the x-ray tube that consists of a tungsten target that produces x-rays when hit with electrons from the cathode.

Antagonist

A drug or other chemical substance capable of reducing the physiologic activity or another chemical substance; refers especially to a drug that opposes the action of a drug or other chemical substance on the nervous system by combining with and blocking the nerve receptor.

Anthelmintic

General term used to describe compounds that kill various types of internal parasites.

Anthropomorphism

Attributing human characteristics and emotions to animals.

Antibloat medications

Act by reducing numbers of gas-producing rumen microorganisms or breaking up the bubbles formed in the rumen with frothy bloat.

Anticholinergic

The action of certain medications that inhibit the transmission of parasympathetic nerve impulses and thereby reduce spasms of smooth muscle.

Anticonvulsants

Drugs that are used to control seizures.

Antiemetic

A drug given to prevent vomiting.

Antigen

Any substance capable of eliciting an immune response.

Antigenic determinant

The particular part of the antigen that binds the antibody.

Anti-inflammatory drugs

A drug that relieves pain or discomfort by blocking or reducing the inflammatory process.

Antimicobial

Drugs that kill or inhibit the growth of microorganisms such as bacteria, protozoa, or fungi.

Antiseptics

The prevention of infectious agent growth on animate objects; the destruction of most living pathogenic microorganisms on animate objects.

Anuria

Absence of urine.

Anxiolysis

A drug given to prevent anxiety.

Aortic thromboembolism

An aggregation of platelets and fibrin that acutely migrates and lodges at a distant site in the circulatory system.

Apnea

Suspension of external breathing.

Apnea monitor

Sensor placed between an endotracheal tube connector and breathing circuit to determine whether the patient is breathing or not.

Apteria

The featherless tract of birds.

Arch

Row of teeth, such as the mandibular/maxillary arch.

Aromatherapy

Therapeutic use of pure essential oils derived from aromatic plants to help balance and heal the mind, body, and spirit.

Arrhythmia

Any abnormal pattern of electrical activity in the heart; abnormal heart rhythm; irregular heartbeat.

Arthropod

Ectoparasite belonging to the phylum Arthropoda.

Asepsis

A condition of being free from infection.

Aseptic technique

All precautions taken to prevent contamination and ultimately infection.

Aspartate aminotransferase

An enzyme of hepatocytes found free in the cytoplasm and attached to the mitochondrial membrane that is released when hepatocytes are damaged.

Assertive comminication

Acting confidently, confident in stating a position or claim.

Ataxia

A wobbly or uncoordinated gait.

Atelectasis

The lack of gas exchange within alveoli, usually caused by alveolar collapse or fluid consolidation.

Atlas

First cervical vertebra.

Audition

Listening carefully.

Auditory sense

A mechanical sense. Through a complex set of auditory passageways and ear structures, vibrations of air molecules are converted into impulses that the brain decodes as sound.

Auscultation

Listening to heart and lung sounds using a stethoscope; listening to sounds produced by the body, directly or indirectly.

Autoclave

A sterilization unit that creates high-temperature pressurized steam,

Autoimmune disease

Humoral or cell-mediated response against antigens found in a bodies own cells; exmaples include systemic lupus erythematosus or rheumatoid arthritis.