Veterinary Anatomy – Comprehensive Review Flashcards

A curated set of flashcards covering essential terms, structures, developmental processes and species differences across veterinary gross anatomy, embryology, histology, neuroanatomy, musculoskeletal, cardiovascular, respiratory, digestive, urinary, reproductive and special-sense systems. Use them to test directional terminology, embryologic stages, organ anatomy, comparative features, clinical correlations and key definitions relevant to veterinary board preparation.

What does the median plane do in anatomical orientation?

It divides the head, body or limb longitudinally into equal right and left halves.

Which branch of anatomy studies body structures visible to the naked eye?

Macroscopic (gross) anatomy.

Name the three primary germ layers formed during gastrulation.

Ectoderm, Mesoderm, Endoderm.

During cleavage, the cells produced are called .

Blastomeres.

What type of placenta is found in horses and pigs?

Diffuse epitheliochorial adeciduate placenta.

Which extra-embryonic membrane is derived from somatopleure and forms the fetal side of the placenta with allantois (except in primates)?

Chorion.

State the critical difference between holoblastic and meroblastic cleavage.

Holoblastic divides the entire zygote into equal cells; meroblastic begins at the animal pole and may not extend through the vegetal pole.

In birds, where does karyokinesis occur without complete cytokinesis producing a syncytium?

During early meroblastic cleavage in the blastoderm.

What is the pacemaker of the heart’s impulse-conducting system?

The sino-atrial (SA) node.

Which spinal cord layer houses neuronal cell bodies forming the gray matter?

Mantle layer.

Define ‘myeloschisis’.

A cleft in the neural tube due to failure of closure during neurulation.

Name the three types of muscle tissue.

Skeletal, Cardiac, Smooth.

Which cranial nerve innervates the cricothyroideus muscle?

Cranial laryngeal nerve (branch of vagus).

What is the main blood supply to the ruminant horn?

Cornual artery from the superficial temporal artery.

Which ligament locks the equine patella for the stay apparatus?

The medial patellar ligament engaging the medial trochlear ridge.

Which domestic species lacks a gall bladder?

Horse.

What type of ossification forms flat bones of the skull?

Intramembranous ossification.

Which cells line renal collecting ducts and secrete surfactant in alveoli respectively?

Collecting ducts: simple cuboidal/columnar cells; Surfactant: Type II pneumocytes.

What structure separates the esophageal (nonglandular) and glandular portions of the equine stomach?

Margo plicatus.

Which species has an entirely striated esophagus along its whole length?

Ruminants and dog.

Define ‘syndesmochorial’ placenta.

Placenta with five tissue layers; uterine epithelium is lost, found partly in sheep and goats.

What bone in dogs forms part of the penis for rigidity?

Os penis (baculum).

Which avian organ stores ingested food for softening before it reaches the proventriculus?

Crop (ingluvies).

Name the sensory hair follicle that contains a blood sinus and is linked to mechanoreceptors.

Sinus (tactile or vibrissal) hair follicle.

What is the function of Brunner’s glands and where are they located?

Produce alkaline mucus; located in the submucosa of the duodenum.

Which domestic species possesses a spiral loop of the ascending colon forming a ‘cone’?

Ruminants (bovine spiral colon).

Explain the difference between cranial and caudal mesenteric arteries.

Cranial mesenteric supplies midgut derivatives; caudal mesenteric supplies hindgut derivatives.

What is the clinical significance of the guttural pouch in horses?

Site for infections (strangles), houses vital vessels & nerves; surgical access via Viborg’s triangle.

Which ligament forms the broad dorsal part of the bovine nuchal ligament?

Funicular part (paired cords) and lamellar part (sheet).

Give the vertebral formula for the dog.

C7 T13 L7 S3 Ca20-23.

Which tooth in horses is commonly called the ‘wolf tooth’?

Upper first premolar (P1).

What anatomical term describes movement of a limb toward the midline?

Adduction.

Which cell type forms the myelin sheath in the peripheral nervous system?

Schwann (neurolemmal) cells.

What is the primary lymphoid organ that involutes after puberty?

Thymus.

Name the largest sesamoid bone in mammals.

Patella.

Which species has a fibroelastic penis with a sigmoid flexure and long urethral process?

Small ruminants (ram, buck).

Define ‘torus linguae’ and its species occurrence.

Muscular swelling on caudal dorsal tongue in ruminants aiding prehension.

Which avian bone forms the ‘wishbone’?

Furcula (fused clavicles).

What structure allows avian lungs to remain rigid yet ventilated by air sacs?

Parabronchi with cross-current air-capillary system; lungs do not expand.

Identify the layers pierced in a bovine flank (left paralumbar) laparotomy.

Skin → cutaneous trunci → external abdominal oblique → internal abdominal oblique → transversus abdominis → transversalis fascia → peritoneum.

Which equine intestinal segment has 4 taeniae and many sacculations?

Right ventral colon.

What is the function of Juxtaglomerular (JG) cells?

They secrete renin in response to decreased renal perfusion pressure.

Name two fetal shunts that close post-natally and their adult remnants.

Foramen ovale → fossa ovalis; Ductus arteriosus → ligamentum arteriosum.

Which cranial nerve provides motor innervation to the muscles of mastication?

Mandibular branch of the trigeminal nerve (CN V3).

Describe the location and content of the carotid sinus.

Enlargement at the origin of internal carotid artery containing baroreceptors sensing blood pressure.

Which domestic species has a complete bony orbit and supra-orbital foramen?

Horse and ruminants (complete orbit); horse has supra-orbital foramen.

What is the principal artery supplying the rumen?

Right ruminal artery (branch of splenic in cattle).

Define ‘lyssa’.

Rod-like fibrous structure in the ventral midline of the canine tongue.

Which tendon is incised to correct bovine stringhalt?

Tendon of the lateral digital extensor.

What hormone is produced by the ovarian corpus luteum?

Progesterone.

Differentiate epidural from subarachnoid space.

Epidural: between dura mater and periosteum; Subarachnoid: between arachnoid and pia mater, contains CSF.

Which gland secretes cerumen?

Ceruminous glands (modified apocrine glands) of the external auditory meatus.

What is the anatomical basis of ‘gooseflesh’ in animals?

Contraction of arrector pili muscles attached to hair follicles.

Name the ligament that forms the fibrous support of the bovine udder from pelvis to prepubic tendon.

Median suspensory ligament.

Which digestive organ in birds grinds feed mechanically?

Ventriculus (gizzard) with koilin layer.

What is the function of the omasum in ruminants?

Grinding and absorption of water and VFAs; ‘manyplies’ filters ingesta to abomasum.

Which nerve block is performed around supraorbital, lacrimal, infratrochlear & zygomaticotemporal branches before dehorning cattle?

Cornual nerve block (branch of zygomaticotemporal, opthalmic division CN V).

Identify the cranial nerve tested by the menace response and blink.

Facial nerve (CN VII) for blink; optic (CN II) provides afferent path.

Explain ‘syrinx’ in birds.

Avian voice box located at the tracheal bifurcation.

What is the most cranial heart valve auscultated on the left side in large animals?

Pulmonary valve (3rd ICS left).

Which species possesses both left and right cranial venae cavae?

Birds.

Define ‘parenchyma’ in lymph nodes and its two main regions.

Functional tissue comprising outer cortex (nodules) and inner medulla (cords & sinuses).

Which ligament in horses limits side-kick by anchoring the head of femur to the acetabulum?

Accessory ligament of the hip (from prepubic tendon).

Name the largest paranasal sinus in ruminants and its main diverticulum.

Frontal sinus; major (caudal) compartment gives rise to cornual diverticulum.

What is bone spavin and which tendon is cut surgically to alleviate it?

Osteoarthritis of distal hock joints; cunean tendon (medial cranial tibial) is resected.

Which large superficial vein is preferred for venipuncture in pigs?

Lateral (auricular) ear vein or cranial vena cava (large volumes).

What nerve must be avoided when injecting into the gluteal region of horses?

Sciatic nerve.

Which muscles form the reciprocal apparatus of the equine hindlimb?

Superficial digital flexor and peroneus tertius.

Give the dental formula for permanent bovine teeth.

I 0/4 C 0/0 P 3/3 M 3/3 = 32.

What is the functional cell of antibody production in connective tissue?

Plasma cell (differentiated B-lymphocyte).

Which gland in dogs is often surgically removed (‘anal sac removal’) due to impaction?

Gland of the anal sac (modified sweat gland).

Define ‘granulation tissue’.

Capillary-rich tissue with fibroblasts that fills wounds during connective tissue repair.

Which avian renal artery supplies the gonads?

Cranial renal artery.

What are Hassall’s corpuscles and where found?

Concentric keratinized structures in the thymic medulla.

Which artery is ligated in large colon volvulus surgery of horses?

Colic branch of the ileocolic or medial cecal artery as part of resection; care to preserve main colic supply.

Name the fetal membrane responsible for first hematopoiesis and germ-cell origin.

Yolk sac (vitelline sac).

What is the main nerve supply to the bovine udder responsible for milk let-down sensation?

Genitofemoral nerve (L3-L4).

Which congenital malformation is characterized by a thin-walled enlarged lateral ventricle filled with CSF?

Hydranencephaly.

Identify the two bones fused to form the cannon bone in ruminants.

Metacarpal/metatarsal III and IV.

What surface specialization increases intestinal absorptive area and contains microfilaments?

Microvilli forming the striated (brush) border.