Veterinary Clinical Examination: Semiologic Terminology and Pathological Signs

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering veterinary clinical examination terminology, including body constitutions, forced standing/gait/recumbent postures, integumentary anomalies, and mucous membrane pathology.

Antecedents

Past medical history, recording previous illnesses or conditions and the timing of their occurrence.

Habitus

The general physical and mental state of an animal at the exact moment of clinical consultation.

Conformation

The physical structure and build of an animal, evaluated specifically for the presence of anatomical defects.

Constitution

The combined anatomical and biochemical structure that enables an animal to resist environmental factors.

Fine Constitution

A bodily constitution characterized by thin skin and short hair, exemplified by dairy breeds such as Holstein.

Robust Constitution

A bodily constitution characterized by heavy musculature and meat-producing capacity.

Debilitated Constitution

A weakened constitution, observed in over-demanded animals such as sows nursing excessively large litters.

Coarse Constitution

A constitution contrasting with a fine build, marked by an overly developed frame with long and thick hair.

Opisthotonos

A forced posture characterized by exaggerated dorsal extension of the head and neck.

Emprosthotonos

A forced posture characterized by exaggerated ventral flexion of the head.

Orthotonos

A forced posture in which the head and neck are rigidly held fixed in a straight line.

Torticollis

An abnormal twisting of the head toward the neck.

Pseudotorticollis

Twisting of the head together with the neck that is not attributable to nervous system etiologies.

Pleurothotonos

A lateral curvature where the head is twisted toward the thorax, resembling self-auscultation.

Camped Stance

Adopting an abnormally wide base of support while standing, typically seen in animals experiencing colic.

Limb Semiflexion

A posture with partially bent limbs indicating intestinal pain, making the animal look like it wants to lie down.

Limb Abduction

A stance where the limbs are spread outward from the midline, commonly seen in conditions such as mastitis.

Heel Weight-Bearing

Shifting body weight backward onto the heels during standing, characteristic of laminitis.

Knee Weight-Bearing

Supporting weight on the carpi (knees), characteristically observed in rachitic young animals.

Endometritis

Inflammatory condition affecting the endometrium.

Salpingitis

Inflammation of the uterine (fallopian) tube.

Orchiepididymitis

Combined inflammatory condition involving both the testicle and the epididymis.

Sitting Dog Posture

An abnormal posture adopted during acute gastric dilatation caused by a markedly enlarged stomach.

Tetanic Posture

Severe, rigid posture affecting the entire body, commonly referred to as the wooden animal stance.

Kangaroo Posture

Bearing body weight onto the hindquarters across the lateral lumbosacral region, resembling a sitting posture.

Penguin Posture

An abnormal upright standing posture observed in birds.

Lordosis

An abnormal inward (ventral) curvature of the vertebral column, seen as a conformation defect or in gestation.

Scoliosis

An abnormal lateral deviation or curvature of the vertebral column.

Kyphosis

An outward (dorsal) curvature of the vertebral column (humpback), commonly localized to the lumbar region due to urinary tract pain.

Spondylitis

The pathological formation of bony outgrowths along the margins of the vertebrae.

Lumbago

Reduced mobility of the vertebral column specifically within the lumbar area.

Orthopneic Posture

A posture where the head is held rigid in orthotonos and limbs are abducted to relieve dyspnea, tetanus, or acute pharyngitis.

Dromomania

A compulsive tendency to walk incessantly.

Pulsions

An involuntary locomotor compulsion to move strictly in a single direction.

Anteropulsion

A compulsive locomotor tendency to move only in a forward direction.

Retropulsion

A compulsive locomotor tendency to move only backward.

Lateropulsion

A compulsive locomotor tendency to walk sideways.

Circus Movement

Compulsive walking in circles (manège gait).

Pirouetting

An abnormal movement pattern characterized by supporting weight on the hind limbs while spinning or rotating.

Zig-zag Gait

An uncoordinated, staggering or drunken-like gait indicative of cerebellar disorders.

Hindquarter Dragging

Locomotor deficit characterized by trailing or dragging the rear limbs along the ground.

Walking on Needles

A stiff, tentative gait characteristic of painful conditions affecting the hooves or claws.

Sterno-abdominal Recumbency

Lying with the abdomen tightly pressed against the ground, seen in abdominal pain or solanine poisoning in swine.

Dorsal Recumbency

A recumbent posture where the animal lies on its back, observed in horses with colic.

Barrel Rolling

Involuntary continuous rolling along the longitudinal axis caused by lesions of the inner ear or cerebral peduncles.

Ptyalism

Pathologically increased production of saliva (hypersalivation).

Sialorrhea

Excessive accumulation and drooling of saliva that the animal is unable to swallow.

Mucosal Edema

Serous fluid infiltration producing a glassy mucosal appearance, resulting from trauma or malnutrition.

Conjunctival Edema

Serous swelling of the conjunctival mucosa, notably observed in undernourished sheep.

Capillary Refill Time (CRT)

The duration required for mucosal microcirculation to normalize following induced vascular compression or stasis.

Cachexia

Severe wasting and emaciation that, upon persisting, advances toward internal organ failure.

Marasmus

A state of profound emaciation characterized by atrophy of internal organs.

Hyperhidrosis

Abnormally excessive or profuse sweat secretion.

Dyshidrosis

Any functional abnormality or disorder in the production of sweat.

Hypohidrosis

Pathological decrease or reduction in sweat secretion.

Anhidrosis

Complete absence of sweat secretion.

Hematohidrosis

The rare excretion of blood or blood-tinged fluid within sweat.

Horripilation

Erection of hairs (piloerection) triggered by emotional states such as fear or anger.

Ptilosis (Feather Erection)

Erection or bristling of feathers in birds.

Hypertrichosis

Exaggerated, abnormal excessive growth of hair.

Hypotrichosis

Subnormal hair density or loss of hair, transitioning into shedding or alopecia.

Nummular Alopecia

Hair loss occurring in discrete circular patches, such as periocular patterns around the eyes.

Deglabration Alopecia

Extensive hair loss extending over broad surface areas of the skin.

Atrichia

Hereditary, complete congenital absence of hair.

Malopecia

Abnormal shedding or loss of wool in sheep.

Hypochromia (Canities)

Depigmentation or whitening of hair occurring secondary to dermatitis or advancing age.

Hyperchromia

Pathologically intense pigmentation of the hair or skin.

Partial Hyperchromia

Focal patches of increased pigmentation presenting as spots or ephelides (freckles).

Rutilism

A hereditary condition characterized by red spots or reddish skin and coat pigmentation.

Adenitis

Inflammation localized to the lymph nodes.

Lymphadenitis

Concurrent inflammatory involvement of both lymph nodes and lymphatic vessels.

Pale Mucous Membranes

A blanched mucosal appearance indicative of anemia or blood loss through hemorrhage.

Mucosal Enanthema

Congestive, erythematous spots or patches arising on mucosal surfaces.

Mucosal Injection

Linear red mucosal discoloration caused by active capillary engorgement and dilation.

Mucosal Hemorrhage

Extravasation of blood onto mucosal surfaces, associated with toxic disturbances of hepatic function.

Dirty-Gray Mucosa

A foul, grayish mucosal discoloration observed in autointoxication, anthrax, or severe enteritis.

Bright Red Mucosa

Vivid cherry-red mucosal coloration diagnostic of acute hydrocyanic acid (cyanide) toxicity.

Xerosis

Abnormal dryness affecting mucous membranes.

Xerophthalmia

Abnormal dryness affecting the ocular mucous membranes.

Xerostomia

Abnormal dryness affecting the oral mucosa.

Epiphora

Excessive lacrimal discharge or abnormal overflow of tears.