Veterinary Emergency Room Medical Terminology

Vocabulary flashcards covering common veterinary medical terminology used in emergency settings, including diagnostic terms, clinical signs, and anatomical descriptions.

Tachypnea

Abnormally rapid respiratory rates.

Torsion

Axial twist; twist around the long axis of gut.

Trocharization

Insertion of a pointed instrument (trocar) into a body cavity.

Vestibular

A neurologic disorder characterized by head tilt, nystagmus, rolling, falling and circling.

Viscous

Having a thick, sticky consistency between solid and liquid; having a high viscosity.

Zoonotic

Diseases that can be transmitted between animals and humans.

Leukopenia

Deficiency of white blood cells. Sometimes called leukocytopenia.

Lipemia

Excessive amount of fat in the bloodstream.

Lipoma

Benign growth of fat cells, also called fatty tumor.

Luxation

Dislocation or displacement of a bone from its joint.

Malignant

If a tumor is cancerous.

Mast Cell

Cells that respond to insult by producing and releasing histamine and heparin.

Mastitis

Inflammation of the mammary glands.

Melena

Black stools containing digested blood. Suggests an upper Gl bleed.

Necropsy

An autopsy performed on an animal.

Neoplasia

Any abnormal growth of tissue in which multiplication of cells is uncontrolled.

Nystagmus

Involuntary, rhythmic movement of the eye.

Obtunded

Depressed.

Occlusion

The blockage or closing of an opening, blood vessel, or hollow organ.

Paraphimosis

Retraction of the skin of the prepuce causing a painful swelling of the glans penis that prevents the penis from being retracted.

Paresis

Weakness.

Petechiae

Small, pinpoint hemorrhages.

Pinna

The external portion of the ear that catches sound waves and transmits them into the external auditory canal.

Penumothorax

Abnormal accumulation of air or gas in the chest cavity.

Polyuria

Excessive urination.

Postictal

The period after a seizure. An animal may appear obtunded, tired, fearful or anxious during this stage.

Proptosis

Displacement of the eye from the orbit.

Pyometra

Pus in the uterus.

Pyothorax

Accumulation of pus in the chest cavity.

Pruritis

Itching.

Pyelonephritis

Inflammation of the renal pelvis and kidney.

Smegma

A natural bodily secretion in dogs that lubricates the genital area.

Stomatitis

Inflammation of the mouth.

Stranguria

Slow or painful urination.

Stertor

A noisy, rattling sound heard during breathing.

Stuporous

Impaired consciousness with unresponsiveness to stimuli.

Syncope

Temporary suspension of respiration and circulation.

Cyanosis

Abnormal condition of blue discoloration caused by inadequate oxygen levels.

Cystitis

Inflammation of the urinary bladder.

Dehiscence

Disruption or opening of the surgical wound.

Dilation

The action or condition of becoming or being made wider, larger, or more open.

Diuresis

The elevated excretion of urine. May be produced by fluid therapy or drug therapy.

Dyspnea

Difficult or labored breathing.

Dystocia

Difficult birth.

Edema

Accumulation of fluid in the intercellular space.

Effusion

Fluid escaping from blood or lymphatic vessels into tissues or spaces.

Emaciation

Marked wasting or excessive leanness.

Enterocolitis

Inflammation of the small intestine and large intestine.

Epistaxis

Nosebleed.

Emesis

Forcible expulsion of stomach contents through the mouth, also known as vomiting.

Febrile

Fever.

Gastroenteritis

Inflammation of the stomach and small intestine.

Hematemesis

Vomiting blood.

Hematochezia

Passage of bloody stool.

Hematuria

Blood in urine.

Hemolysis

The breaking down of blood cells.

Hyperaesthetic

A condition that causes increased sensitivity to stimuli, such as touch, sound, smell, or sight.

Hyper/hypokalemia

Increased/decreased potassium levels.

Hyper/hyponatremia

Increased/decreased sodium levels.

Hyper/hypotension

High/low blood pressure.

Hypovolemia

Low circulating blood volume.

Icteric

Relating to or affected by jaundice.

Idiopathic

Unknown cause or disease of an individual.

Ileus

Stoppage of intestinal peristalsis (contractions of smooth muscles).

Intussusception

Telescoping of one part of the intestine into an adjacent part.

Jaundice

Yellow discoloration of the skin and mucous membranes caused by elevated bilirubin levels.

Lavage

Irrigation of tissue with fluid.

Leukocytosis

Elevation in the number of white blood cells.

Agonal

Respirations near death or extreme suffering.

Alopecia

Hair loss resulting in hairless patches or complete lack of hair.

Analgesia

Created by substances that relieve pain without affecting consciousness.

Anemia

And releasing Blood condition of less than normal levels of red blood cells or hemoglobin.

Anisocoria

Condition of unequal pupil size.

Anorexia

Lack or loss of appetite.

Apnea

Absence of breathing.

Ascites

Abnormal accumulation of fluid in the abdomen.

Asepsis

State without infection.

Aspiration

Inhalation of a foreign substance into the upper respiratory tract.

Ataxia

Without coordination, "stumbling."

Atopy

Hypersensitivity reaction in animals involving pruritis with secondary dermatitis.

Aural

Ear.

Auscultation

The act of listening to body sounds and usually involves the use of a stethoscope.

Azotemia

Presence of urea or other nitrogenous elements in the blood (elevated kidney values).

Bilateral

Pertaining to two sides.

Bradycardia

Abnormally slow heartbeat.

Brachycephalic

Having a relatively broad, short skull.

Bronchial

Pertaining to the branches of the lungs.

Cautery

Application of a burning substance, hot instrument, electric current or other agent to destroy tissue.

Cellulitis

Inflammation of connective tissue.

Centesis

The surgical procedure to remove fluid for diagnostic purposes or to remove fluid or gas.

Coagulation

The process of clotting.

Colitis

Inflammation of the colon.

Conjunctiva/-itis

The mucus membrane that covers the front of the eye and lines the inside of the eyelid. Conjunctivitis is inflammation of this membrane.

Contusion

Injury that does not break the skin; characterized by pain, swelling and discoloration.