Gross Veterinary Anatomy Review

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering the gross anatomy of various systems in domestic animals, with a focus on canine specifics.

Axial skeleton

The central axis of the animal comprising the skull, vertebral column, and the ribcage.

Epiphyseal cartilage (physis)

A layer of hyaline cartilage within the metaphysis of an immature bone; it is the only area in which a bone can lengthen.

Condyle

An approximately cylindrical articular mass of a bone.

Plowshare bone (Vomer)

A gutter-shaped bone that longitudinally separates the right and left nasal passages.

Sella turcica

A depression in the sphenoid bone that houses the pituitary gland.

External Acoustic Meatus

The large opening caudal to the zygomatic arch where the external ear attaches; it is covered by the ear drum in living animals.

Mandibular symphysis

A cartilaginous joint at the chin that joins the two halves or dentaries of the mandible.

Sick Elephants Can Be Treated

A memory aid for the bones of the hyoid apparatus: Stylohyoid, Epihyoid, Ceratohyoid, Basihyoid, and Thyrohyoid.

Vertebral Formula (Dog)

The specific sequence of vertebrae in dogs: $C_7 T_{13} L_7 S_3 Ca_{20-24}$.

Anticlinical vertebra

The most vertically oriented spine used as a landmark in thoracic radiographs; it is $T_{11}$ in the dog.

Hemal arches

Separate bones articulating with the ventral surface of the $4^{th}$, $5^{th}$, and $6^{th}$ caudal vertebrae to protect the median caudal artery.

Floating ribs

The last ribs which have no connection with the sternum and no cartilage; found only in the dog and man.

Sternebrae

The $8$ individual bones that make up the sternum and tend to fuse as age advances.

Acromion (hamate process)

The expanded distal end of the scapular spine.

Supratrochlear foramen

A hole between the olecranon and radial fossa in the humerus through which nothing passes.

Intermedioradial carpal bone

The largest carpal bone in dogs, formed by the fusion of the radial and intermediate carpal bones.

Tuber coxae (hook bone)

A palpable prominence on the lateral wing of the ilium.

Fabella

Sesamoid bones found at the origin of the medial and lateral parts of the gastrocnemius, present only in dogs.

Gomphosis

The specialized fibrous articulation of teeth in their alveoli in the mandible and maxilla.

Menisci

Fibrocartilage disks truly intracapsular in the stifle and temporomandibular joint that contribute to joint congruency but are not covered by synovial membrane.

Gastrocnemius

A muscle that resembles the shape of a stomach and forms the largest bulge of the caudal crus.

Masseter

A muscle that closes the jaw and is located in the deep masseteric fossa of the mandible.

Zygomaticus (smiling muscle)

The muscle that draws the angle of the mouth caudally and the external ear cranially and ventrally.

Serratus ventralis

The largest and most important muscle attaching the thoracic limb to the trunk, forming a supportive sling.

Lacertus fibrosus

A palpable cordlike structure on the flexor surface of the elbow formed by the tendinous blending of the biceps brachii with the antebrachial fascia.

Common calcanean tendon (Tendon of Achilles)

The bulk of this structure is made up of the tendons of the gastrocnemius and superficial digital flexor.

Brachydont enamel

In this type of tooth, enamel covers only the crown; typical of the dog.

Carnassial teeth (sectorial teeth)

The largest teeth in the dog, specifically the upper $4^{th}$ premolar and the $1^{st}$ lower molar, having $3$ roots.

Lyssa

A bar of cartilage embedded in the ventral surface of the apex of the dog's tongue.

Major duodenal papilla

The site where the bile duct and pancreatic duct (Duct of Wirsung) open in common into the proximal duodenum.

Anal sac

Paired pouches located between the internal and external anal sphincters that open at the analyst canal at the $4$ and $8$ o'clock positions.

Philtrum

The groove in the upper lip and middle of the nose that separates the nostrils.

Laryngeal ventricles

The lateral evaginations of the laryngeal mucosa.

Tracheal rings (Dog)

Slender, U-shaped cartilage structures numbering between $42-46$ that do not meet dorsally.

Renal hilus

The opening to the renal sinus that serves as the entry point for the ureter, renal blood vessels, and nerves.

Detrusor muscle

The smooth muscle forming the wall of the urinary bladder.

Pampiniform plexus

Coils of testicular veins around the testicular artery that function to cool the blood before it reaches the testes.

Bulbus glandis

The part of the glans penis responsible for the 'tie' or coital lock during dog copulation.

Suspensory ligament of the ovary

A peritoneal fold present only in the bitch that attaches the ovary to the diaphragm near the last rib.

Trigone

A triangular area in the vicinity of the bladder neck that is sensitive to pressure.

Ligamentum arteriosum

The remnant of the fetal ductus arteriosus connecting the pulmonary trunk and the aorta.

Circle of Willis

An arterial circle located ventral to the hypothalamus formed by the paired internal carotid and basilar arteries.

Cephalic vein

The most common vein used in dogs for collecting blood, located on the cranial surface of the forearm.

Tapetum lucidum

A specialized refractive area of the choroid in the eye responsible for eyes glowing when shined with light.

Auditory ossicles

Three bones (malleus, incus, and stapes) that transmit and amplify sound vibrations across the middle ear.

Conus medullaris

The tapered terminal end of the spinal cord.