Veterinary Medical Terminology Lecture 1

This set of flashcards covers basic medical terminology concepts, species-specific terms, vital sign ranges, and common prefixes/suffixes/abbreviations used in veterinary medicine.

What are the common behavioral terms used to describe animal responsiveness and temperament?

Aggressive, Alert, Docile, Feral, Submissive, Anxious, and Excitable.

What are the veterinary terms for Dog and Cat?

Dog is Canine; Cat is Feline.

Match the following domestic species to their medical terms: Horse, Cattle, Sheep, Goat, Pig.

Horse: Equine; Cattle: Bovine; Sheep: Ovine; Goat: Caprine; Pig: Porcine.

What terms are used for Birds and the group including Llamas and Alpacas?

Birds: Avian; Llamas and Alpacas: Camelid.

What is a 'Differential diagnosis'?

A list of possible diseases explaining the observed signs.

Define 'Iatrogenic' and 'Idiopathic'.

Iatrogenic: Caused by medical treatment. Idiopathic: Unknown cause.

What is the difference between 'Acute' and 'Chronic' in veterinary medicine?

Acute refers to sudden onset and short duration, while Chronic refers to long-term or persistent conditions.

What are the normal vital signs for a Dog?

Heart Rate: $60–160\,bpm$; Respiration: $10–30\,rpm$; Temperature: $101–102.5\,^{\circ}F$.

What are the normal vital signs for a Cat?

Heart Rate: $140–220\,bpm$; Respiration: $20–30\,rpm$; Temperature: $100.5–102.5\,^{\circ}F$.

What are the normal vital signs for a Horse?

Heart Rate: $28–44\,bpm$; Respiration: $8–16\,rpm$; Temperature: $99–101.5\,^{\circ}F$.

What are the normal vital signs for Cattle?

Heart Rate: $48–84\,bpm$; Respiration: $10–30\,rpm$; Temperature: $101–103\,^{\circ}F$.

What are the three steps for analyzing a medical term?

1. Separate the word into individual components. 2. Determine the meaning of each component. 3. Combine the meanings to create a definition.

What is a 'Combining Vowel' and what is its most common form?

A vowel used to connect a root to another word part (usually a suffix) to improve pronunciation; 'o' is the most frequent combining vowel.

Define 'Combining Form'.

A combining form consists of a root plus its combining vowel (e.g., $gastr/o$).

What are the meanings of the roots 'Arthr/o', 'Cyt/o', and 'Ophthalm/o'?

Arthr/o: joint; Cyt/o: cell; Ophthalm/o: eye.

What are the meanings of the roots 'Hepat/o', 'Nephr/o', and 'Rhin/o'?

Hepat/o: liver; Nephr/o: kidney; Rhin/o: nose.

Define the prefixes 'Hyper-' and 'Hypo-'.

Hyper-: excessive or above normal; Hypo-: below normal or deficient.

Define the prefixes 'Endo-', 'Exo-', and 'Intra-'.

Endo-: within; Exo-: outside/away from; Intra-: within.

What do the color roots 'Cyan/o', 'Xanth/o', and 'Poli/o' refer to?

Cyan/o: Blue; Xanth/o: Yellow; Poli/o: Gray.

What are the medical meanings for 'Erythr/o' and 'Leuk/o'?

Erythr/o refers to Red; Leuk/o refers to White.

Define the suffixes '-algia', '-ectomy', and '-itis'.

-algia: pain; -ectomy: surgical removal; -itis: inflammation.

What is the difference between the suffixes '-scope' and '-scopy'?

-scope refers to the viewing instrument; -scopy refers to the act of visual examination.

What is the rule for removing a combining vowel?

The combining vowel is usually dropped if the suffix begins with a vowel (e.g., $gastr/o + -ic = gastric$).

What is the rule for interpreting most medical terms from their components?

Define terms from the end backward: start with the suffix, then the prefix (if present), then the root.

How should multiple roots be ordered in a medical term?

Roots usually follow anatomical order (e.g., the stomach precedes the small intestine in 'gastroenterology').

In veterinary medicine, what does 'Anemia' specifically refer to?

A reduction in red blood cells, hemoglobin, or packed cell volume within the bloodstream.

Define 'Brachycephalic', 'Dolichocephalic', and 'Mesocephalic'.

Brachycephalic: shortened, broad skull; Dolichocephalic: long, narrow skull; Mesocephalic: intermediate skull shape.

What is the difference between a 'Carcinoma' and a 'Sarcoma'?

Carcinoma is a malignant neoplasm arising from epithelial tissue; Sarcoma is a malignant neoplasm arising from connective tissue.

What information is included in a patient's 'Signalment'?

Species, breed, age, sex, and weight.

Distinguish between 'Neoplasia' and 'Tumor'.

Neoplasia is the process of autonomous, abnormal cell proliferation; a Tumor is the resulting localized mass (which can be inflammatory or neoplastic).

What is the difference between 'Leukocytosis' and 'Leukemia'?

Leukocytosis is an elevated white blood cell count (often from infection/stress); Leukemia is a malignant disease involving cancerous white blood cells.

What do the eye abbreviations 'OD', 'OS', and 'OU' stand for?

OD: oculus dexter (right eye); OS: oculus sinister (left eye); OU: oculus uterque (both eyes).

What do the ear abbreviations 'AD', 'AS', and 'AU' stand for?

AD: auris dextra (right ear); AS: auris sinistra (left ear); AU: auris utraque (both ears).