Intro to Vet Science Lecture Notes Flashcards

These vocabulary flashcards cover veterinary roles, medical terminology, anatomical planes, disease classifications, and fundamental physiology as outlined in the Intro to Vet Science lecture notes.

Veterinarian

The equivalent to a doctor; a person trained and qualified to treat diseased or ill animals.

Veterinarian Technician

A professional who provides technical support to the veterinarian for all aspects of care, functioning similarly to a nurse for a doctor.

Veterinarian Assistant

A team member responsible for feeding, watering, and monitoring animals, as well as cleaning, disinfecting, and providing post-operative care.

Marine Veterinarian

A veterinarian whose specialized focus is on wild marine animals.

Aquatic Veterinarian

A veterinarian whose specialized focus is on aquatic animals found in captivity.

Exotic Animal Veterinarian

A veterinarian whose specialized focus is on animals found in a zoo or zoo-like environment.

Anesthesiology

A specialty focusing on the administration of anesthesia, including pre-operative and post-operative care.

Epidemiology

The study of patterns, causes, and effects of disease in animal populations and how they affect the human population.

Microbiology (Veterinary)

Focuses on diseases of domesticated animals that are used for human consumption.

Toxicology

A veterinary specialty focused on the diagnosis and treatment of animals that have been poisoned.

Oncology

The study and treatment of cancer in animals.

Bradycardia

A heart rate that is abnormally slow.

Tachycardia

An abnormally fast heart rate, often due to fear, pain, exercise, or heart disease.

Dyspnea

Difficulty breathing or labored breathing.

Anemia

A condition characterized by a lack of blood, often leading to protein loss or death in severe parasite cases.

-itis

A medical suffix denoting inflammation.

-megaly

A medical suffix meaning abnormally large, such as in hepatomegaly (abnormal enlargement of the liver).

sid

An abbreviation meaning one time daily.

bid

An abbreviation meaning two times daily.

tid

An abbreviation meaning three times daily.

qid

An abbreviation meaning four times daily.

Sub-Q

An abbreviation for subcutaneous.

DVM

Doctor of Veterinary Medicine.

Bovine

The Latin-derived adjective for cattle, associated with the genus Bos.

Equine

The Latin-derived adjective for a horse, associated with the genus Equus.

Caprine

The Latin-derived adjective for a goat, associated with the genus Capra.

Zoonotic Hazard

Any disease that can be passed from animals to humans, caused by viruses, bacteria, parasites, or fungi.

Biohazard

Dangers including living tissue, blood, urine, live vaccines, and medical waste that can spread disease.

Schedule I Drugs

Drugs with no accepted medical use and high abuse potential, such as Heroin, LSD, and Marijuana.

Autoclave

A sealed chamber in which objects are exposed to heat and steam under pressure, commonly used to sterilize surgical items.

Cold Sterilization

Soaking items in a chemical disinfectant until use, employed for items too large to be autoclaved.

Median Plane

The body plane that divides the animal into equal right and left halves.

Transverse Plane

The body plane that divides the animal into cranial and caudal parts.

Cranial

A directional term meaning towards the head of an animal.

Caudal

A directional term meaning towards the tail of an animal.

Distal

The part of the limb located furthest from the body.

Proximal

The part of the limb located closest to the body.

Skeletal Muscle

Striated muscle responsible for all voluntary movement, supporting body structure and moving bones.

Abduction

Muscle movement characterized by moving away from the median plane.

Adduction

Muscle movement characterized by moving towards the median plane.

Epiglottis

A tiny flap that covers the larynx during swallowing to ensure food does not enter the respiratory system.

Alveoli

Grape-like clusters at the ends of bronchioles that are the site of gas exchange, containing surfactant to prevent collapse.

Sensory Neurons

Neurons that carry impulses towards the brain and spinal cord from a receptor.

Synapse

The space between neurons that utilizes neurotransmitters to move impulses.

Sympathetic Division

Part of the autonomic nervous system responsible for the emergency and stress response, known as flight or fight.

Parasympathetic Division

Part of the autonomic nervous system responsible for maintaining and restoring normal body function, or homeostasis.

Kennel Cough (Tracheobronchitis)

Inflammation of the trachea and/or larynx, often caused by Bordetella bronchiseptica, that spreads rapidly in dogs.

Leptospirosis

A worldwide zoonotic disease caused by spiral-shaped bacteria (spirochetes) passed in the urine of animals.

Metastasis

The spreading of cancer from an original site to one or more other sites in the body.

Benign Tumor

An abnormal growth of cells that does not destroy surrounding tissue but can lessen function by its presence.

Malignant Tumor

An abnormal growth of cells that destroys surrounding tissue and can spread to new body sites.

Auscultation

The act of using a stethoscope to listen to body sounds.

Palpation

Using touch to determine the character of deeper, underlying body structures.

Monogastric

Having a simple, single-compartment stomach.

Cecal Fermenters

Animals including guinea pigs, rabbits, and horses that have a large cecum allowing for the digestion of roughages via bacteria.

Peristalsis

Wavelike muscular contractions of the digestive system that cause food to move through the tract.

Ethology

The study of animal behavior in a natural environment or habitat.

Pheromones

Hormones or chemicals that work between individuals to stimulate distinct behaviors.

Positive Reinforcement

A training technique where correct behavior is rewarded with a pleasant stimulus, such as a treat.

Extinction (Behavior Modification)

The removal of positive reinforcement to cause a behavior to fade, such as ignoring a barking dog.

Heartworm (Dirofilaria immitis)

A parasite transmitted by mosquitoes where adults live in the right side of the heart and pulmonary artery.