Veterinary Medical Terms and Terminology
Word Structure
Medical Terminology
· Is based on the following:
- Greek and Latin origins
- eponyms (i.e., words formed from a person’s name)
- modern language terms
· Clinic Corner: Bang’s disease now known as Brucellosis, is named after
· Danish veterinarian Bernhard Lauritz Frederik Bang when he discovered the disease in 1897.
Medical Vocabulary
· Is primarily based on Greek and Latin
- Latin is the universal language of medicine
- Greeks were the founders of modern medicine
Word Structure
· Is important for veterinarians to comprehend in order to understand and learn medical terminology
· Includes:
- root words
- prefixes
- suffixes
- compound words
- combining forms
Root Words
· Are the foundation of most medical terms
· Gives a word meaning
· May contain one or more roots
· Clinic Corner: The letter “o” is often used as a combining vowel at the end of most words allowing the term to be pronounced more easily
Common Root Words
· Examples include:
- cardi/o – heart
- cephalo/o – head
- dent/o – teeth
- ophthalm/o – eye
- steth/o – chest
- nas/o – nose
- ot/o – ear
- derm/o, dermato/o - skin
Prefixes (Part 1)
· Come before the root word
· Modify the meaning of the root word
· Often qualify the following:
- number
- measurement
- position or direction
- negatives
- color
· Clinic Corner: Prefixes are not complete words without the rest of the word parts.
Prefixes (Part 2)
· As number qualifiers include:
- uni (one)
- bi (two)
- tri (three)
- quandra (four)
- quinta (five)
- sexta (six)
- hepta (seven)
- octo (eight)
- nona (nine)
- deca (ten)
Prefixes (Part 3)
· As position or direction qualifiers include:
- sub (under)
- peri (around)
- supra (above)
· for example:
- supracostal
· As negative qualifiers include:
- an (without)
- anti (against)
· for example:
- antioxidant
Prefixes (Part 4)
· As color qualifiers include:
- cyan/o (blue)
- jaund/o (yellow)
- erythr/o (red)
· for example:
- erythrocyte
· Often have opposites which can be beneficial to learn common prefixes include:
- pre (before)
- post (after)
- hypo (low, below normal)
- hyper (high, above normal)
Suffixes
· Come after the root word or words
· Modify the meaning of the root word
· Can be grouped together by meaning, which include:
- pertaining to
- surgical
- procedural
- double R
- conditional and structural
· Clinic Corner: The suffix used will determine the speech classification of the word. (e.g., anemia (noun); anemic (adjective))
Common “Pertaining to” Suffixes
· Examples include:
- ic
- al
- ine
- ary
- an
- ar
- ous
- tic
- eal
- ac
· for example:
- cardiac
Common Surgical Suffixes
· Include:
- ectomy- removal of
- tomy – cutting, incision
- plasty – surgical repair
- centesis – surgical puncture to remove fluid or gas
- pexy – suture to stabilize
- scope – instrument or exam
· for example:
- endoscope
Common Procedural Suffixes
· Include:
- gram– record of
- graphy – procedure which records
- scopy – procedure to visually examine
- logy – study of
- therapy – treatment
· for example:
- hydrotherapy
Common Double R Suffixes
· Include:
- rrhagia or rrhage – bursting forth
· for example:
- hemorrhage – bursting forth of blood from the vessels
- rrhaphy – to suture
· for example:
- enterorrhaphy – suturing of the intestine
- rrhexis – rupture
· for example:
- myorrhexis – rupture of the muscle
Common Conditional & Structural Suffixes (Part 1)
· Include:
- rhexis– rupture
- itis – inflammation
- osis – abnormal condition
- pathy – disease
- algia or dynia– pain
· for example:
- myalgia
- um – structure
- al (as in renal) – pertaining to kidney
- ic (as in enteric) – pertaining to the intestines
- an (as in ovary) – pertaining to the heart
Common Conditional & Structural Suffixes (Part 2)
- ac (as in cardiac) – pertaining to the heart
· for example:
- cardiac
Compound Words
· Have two or more roots
- roots may or may not be joined by a combining vowel
· for example:
- backache (back-ache)
- smallpox (small-pox)
Combining Forms
· Is an incomplete word containing a root word, prefix or suffix with a combining vowel
· Help connect the parts of the word together
- for example:
· electrocardiogram
Greek & Latin Prefix Examples
Hematology= hemat-
The orgin of
Greek & Latin Suffix/Root Examples (Part 1)
Greek & Latin Suffix/Root Examples (Part 2)
Anatomical Terms
Anatomical Terms
· Describe the locations of structures in relation to other structures or locations in the body
· Are used in veterinary medicine in the following ways:
- directional terminology
- positional terminology
- anatomical planes terminology
- muscle and joint actions terminology
Directional Terminology (Part 1)
· Include the following:
- distal - away from the body
- proximal - near the center of the body
- caudal - near the tail
- cranial - relating to the skull
- ventral - relating to the underside of the animal
- rostral - situated near the nose and mouth
- plantar - relating to the sole of the foot
Directional Terminology (Part 2)

Positional Terminology
· Includes the following:
- recumbent - lying down
- dorsal recumbency - lying on the back
- ventral or sternal recumbency - lying on the belly
- left lateral recumbency - lying on the left side
- right lateral recumbency - lying on the right side
Anatomical Planes Terminology
· Is also important when describing locations of wounds or producing radiographs
· Divides the animal into four planes
· Include the following:
- median plane
- sagittal planes
- dorsal plane
- transverse plane
Median Plane
· Divides the body into equal right and left halves

Sagittal Planes
· Are any planes to the right or left, which lie parallel to the median plane

Dorsal Plane
· Divides the animal into _____________ and ventral

Transverse Plane

· Divides the trunk of the animal or the extremities
Muscle & Joint Actions Terminology
· Is used to describe the movements of both muscles and joints
· Includes:
- extension
- flexion
- abduction
- adduction
- supination
- pronation
Extension & Flexion
· Are defined as the following:
- extension is when the joint angle increases
- flexion is when the joint angle decreases

Abduction & Adduction
· Are defined as the following:
- abduction is when the joint moves away from the body
- adduction is when the joint moves towards the body

Supination & Pronation
• Are defined as the following:
- supination is when the palm faces upward
- pronation is when the palms face downward

Veterinary & Human Terms
· Are common in most directional terms and have the same meaning, however there are a few differences in directions and planes due to anatomy
· Differences include the following:

Body Systems Terms
Body Systems
· Are complex structures made up of millions of cells
· Each work together to carry out a special job
· Are highly affected by pathogens which disrupt normal cell functions which sometimes results in the death of cells and tissues
· Include:
- circulatory
- respiratory
- digestive
- endocrine
- immune
- integumentary
- nervous
- skeletal
- reproductive
Circulatory System (Part 1)
· Is designed to pump and deliver blood to the body’s tissue
· Is made up of the heart, arteries, veins and blood
· Common conditions or diseases include:
- heartworm
- heart disease
- hypertension
Circulatory System (Part 2)

Heartworm
· Is a parasitic worm transmitted by mosquitoes which lives in the heart and arteries of an infected animal
· Is an often serious and fatal disease
· Harms arteries and vital organs
Heart Disease
· Is any condition of the heart or blood vessels which inhibits the normal function of the heart and delivery of blood to the body
· Is often heritable in animals and can be acquired over time
Hypertension
· Is a condition which elevates the animal’s normal blood pressure
· Is usually caused by an underlying disease
· Clinic Corner: Blood pressure is the force which is generated within the body’s blood vessels by the beating of an animal’s heart.
Respiratory System (Part 1)
· Provides the body with the exchange of oxygen and dioxide
· Is made up of the nose, mouth, trachea, bronchi and lungs
· Common conditions or diseases include:
- canine distemper
- equine influenza
- bovine respiratory disease
Respiratory System (Part 2)

Distemper
· Is a virus which is passed to animals through direct contact with fresh urine, blood or saliva
· Causes the following:
- sneezing
- coughing
- nasal and eye discharge
- fever
- lethargyrespira
- vomiting
- diarrhea
- depression
Equine Influenza
· Is one of the most common infectious diseases of the respiratory tract in horses
· Damages the lining and mucous lining of the respiratory tract
· Causes the following:
- coughing
- nasal discharge
- fever
- depression
- loss of appetite
· Clinic Corner: Equine Influenza is commonly seen in young horses around two to three years of age.
Bovine Respiratory Disease
· Is the most common disease affecting the North American beef cattle industry
· Causes the following:
- rapid, shallow breathing
- coughing
- salivation
- nasal and eye discharge
- fever
- depression
- loss of appetite
Digestive System
· Breaks down food into simple substances which can be absorbed by the body
· Absorbs digested food into the blood stream
· Includes four basic types of systems:
- monogastric (simple)
- ruminant (polygastric)
- hindgut-fermenter
- avian
Monogastric Digestive System (Part 1)
· Contains a single-chambered stomach
· Stomach is very muscular and stores ingested food and moves it into the small intestine
· Is found in humans, swine, dogs and cats
Monogastric Digestive System (Part 2)

Ruminant Digestive System
Is also known as polygastric
Contains one large stomach which is diveded into four compartments:
1- Rumen
2-Reticulum
3-Omasum
4-abomasum
It is found in cattle,sheep and goats

Hindgut-Fermenter Digestive System (Part 1)
· Is found in animals who eat large amounts of roughage
· Is similar to ruminants, however does not have stomachs with several compartments
· Is found in horses, rabbits, guinea pigs and hamsters
Hindgut-Fermenter Digestive System (Part 2)

Avian Digestive System (Part 1)
· Differs highly from the previous digestive systems because bird have no teeth
· Is made up of the esophagus which empties directly into the crop, where the food is stored and then the gizzard grinds with stones or grit
· Is a very fast process
Avian Digestive System (Part 2)

Digestive System
· Common conditions or diseases include:
- colitis
- colic
- gastroenteritis
Colitis
· Is an acute or chronic inflammation of the membrane lining the colon
· Is most commonly caused by parasites, tumors, a change in food, allergies or swallowing of foreign objects
Colic
· Is defined as abdominal pain and causes problems to the digestive system
· Is the number one cause of death in horses
· Is caused by different types of conditions, such as gas or impaction
Gastroenteritis
· Is the infection or inflammation of the stomach and intestines
· Causes diarrhea, nausea, vomiting and cramping abdominal pain
Endocrine System (Part 1)
· Produces hormones which regulate metabolism, growth and development, tissue and sexual function, reproduction, sleep and mood
· Is made up of the pituitary gland, thyroid gland, parathyroid glands, adrenal glands, pancreas, ovaries and testicles
Endocrine System (Part 2)

Endocrine System (Part 3)
· Common conditions or diseases include:
- hyperfunction or hypofunction
- hyperthyrodism
- fatty liver disease
Hyperfunction or Hypofunction
· Is caused by an imbalance in an animal’s hormone levels
- glands which produce too much hormone are known as “hyper”
- glands which do not produce enough hormone are known as “hypo”
Hyperthyroidism
· Is caused by a tumor of the thyroid gland which produces excess thyroid hormone
· Causes abnormal bone development and young animals to grow at an irregular rate
- most affected animals will not survive through adulthood
Fatty Liver Disease
· Occurs when cattle break down too much fat for the liver to process properly
· Causes fat which is broken down to convert back to fat in the liver which then becomes toxic to the animal and decreases the cattle’s body condition
Immune System
· Defends the body against infectious organisms and other invaders
· Attacks organisms and substances which invade an animal’s system and causes diseases
· Is made up of the lymphatic, spleen, thymus and bone marrow
· Common condition or disease includes:
- autoimmune disease
Lymphatic System

Autoimmune Disease
Occurs when the immune system fails to recognize itself and begins attack and reject the body’s own tissue as a foreign object
· Causes:
- soreness
- itching
- flaky skin
- inflamed ears
- excessive licking
- swelling
Integumentary System (Part 1)
· Protects the animal’s body from disease by providing a barrier to viruses and bacteria
· Protects the body from dehydration, overheating or freezing
· Is the largest organ in the body and includes the following:
- hair
- feathers
- scales
- nails
- hooves
- horns
- skin
Integumentary System (Part 2)
· Common conditions or diseases include:
- mange
- rainrot
- ringworm
Integumentary System (Part 3)

Mange
· Is a skin disease which is caused by parasitic mites
· Causes:
- severe itching
- hair loss
- scabs and lessions
Rainrot
· Is a bacterial infection which multiplies in a moist environment
· Causes scabby crusts which form raised bumps on matted hair
Ringworm
· Is a highly contagious and infectious skin disease caused by fungi
· Symptoms:
- grey-white areas of skin
- raised circular outlines
- lesions
Nervous System (Part 1)
· Transmits signals to different parts of the animal’s body and operates basic body functions like breathing and digestion
· Includes:
- the central nervous system, which is the brain and spinal cord
- the peripheral nervous system, which is made up of the nerves and ganglia
Nervous System (Part 2)

Nervous System (Part 3)
· Common conditions or diseases include:
- peripheral neuropathy
- equine protozoal myeloencephalitis (EPM)
- listeriosis
Equine Protozoal Myeloencephalitis (EPM)
· Is caused by horses ingesting feces of opossums which contain protozoa
· Causes lesions on the spinal cord and brain stem and neurologic damage
· Symptoms:
- loss of coordination
- stumbling
- soreness
- muscle atrophy
- weakness
- head tilit
Listeriosis
· Is a bacterial disease which causes uncoordinated movements, leaning against objects and paralysis
· Can result in death within two to three days after the onset of symptoms
Skeletal System
· Protects and supports the body tissues and internal organs ·
· Is made up of bones and other connective tissues
· Common conditions or illnesses include:
- osteochondrosis
- hip dysplasia
- fractures
Skeletal System

Osteochondrosis
· Is a disease which can affect a variety of joints of a young, growing animal
· Causes irregular bone growth which can lead to painful lesions within the joints
Hip Dysplasia
· Is an inherited condition which is caused by a hip joint which has not formed properly
· Causes a joint to be loose and allows the leg bone to move too much which results in painful deterioration
Fractures
· Are also known as a break in bones
· Often occur due to accidents or incidents such as falls
· Require immediate care to reduce pain and proper healing
Reproductive System
· Consists of reproductive organs within animals which work together for the purpose of sexual _____reproduction________
· Female anatomy includes:
- ovaries
- uterus
- vagina
- vulva
- utter
· Male anatomy includes:
- penis
- testes
Male Reproductive System

Female Reproductive System

Reproductive System
· Common conditions or diseases include:
- ___________infertility__
- dystocia
Infertility
· Is the inability to conceive or carry a pregnancy
· Males can be infertile as well
· Can be causes by lack or decreased sperm count, injury, inherited or overheating
· Can affect animals of all ages but tends to more commonly affect older animals
Dystocia
· Is defined as difficult birthing
· May occur because of maternal difficulties or the position of the fetus within the uterus
Common Veterinary Terms & Abbreviations
Common Veterinary Terms (Part 1)
· Can be grouped in the following categories:
- species specific terms
- physical examinations
- animal handling
- injections
- blood sampling
- laboratory procedures
· Veterinary science is a branch of medicine involving diagnosis, treatment and prevention of diseases, disorders and injuries of various animal species.
· Can be grouped in the following categories:
- hospital procedures
- surgical procedures
- veterinary medical equipment
Common Veterinary Terms (Part 2)
- hospital procedures
- common veterinary abbrevations
surgical procedures
pharmacology
Vet medical equipment
- common veterinary symbols
Species Specific Terms
· Include the following:
- cat terms
- dog terms
- horse terms
- swine terms
- cattle terms
- sheep terms
- goat terms
Cat Terms
· Include:
- tom - intact male
- neutered - castrated male
- queen - intact female
- spayed - sterilized female
- kitten - young cat
- queening - giving birth
- litter - a group of offspring born at the same time
Dog Terms
· Include:
- dog/stud - an intact male dog
- neutered - castrated male dog
- bitch - an intact female
- spayed - sterilized female
- whelp or puppy - a young dog
- whelping - giving birth
- pack - a group of dogs
- litter - a group of offspring born at the same time
Horse Terms
· Include:
- stallion - an intact male more than four years old
- colt - an intact male than four years old
- mare - an intact female more than four years old
- filly - an intact female less than four years old
- gelding - a castrated male
- foal - a young horse
- foaling - giving birth
Swine Terms
· Include:
- boar - an intact male
- sow - an intact female
- barrow - a male who is castrated when young
- gilt - a young female which has not given birth
- pig or shoat - a young pig
- farrowing - giving birth
- herd - a group of pigs
Cattle Terms
· Include:
- Bull - an intact male
- cow - an intact female
- steer - a male bovine castrated when young
- heifer - a young female bovine which has not given birth
- calf - a young bovine
- herd - a group of cattle
- calving or freshening - giving birth
Sheep Terms
· Include:
- ram - an intact male
- ewe - an intact female
- wether - a castrated male
- lamb - a young sheep
- flock - a group of sheep
- freshening or lambing - giving birth
Goat Terms
· Include:
- buck - an intact male
- doe - an intact female
- wether - a castrated male
- kid - a young goat
- herd - a group of goats
- freshening or kidding - giving birth
Physical Examinations
· Are used to identify any abnormalities associated with the animal in an effort to make informed judgments about its health
Physical Examination Terms (Part 1)
Pulse i the number of times the heart beats per minute
Lethargic is not alert or active

Physical Examination Terms (Part 2)

Physical Examination Terms (Part 3)

Animal Handling (Part 1)
· Is a term used to describe the way veterinarians and staff work with, respond to and interact with animals in a clinical or field setting
· Is cruical to the safety of the handler, owner and animal
Animal Handling (Part 2)

Animal Handling (Part 3)

Injections
· Are used to administer medication and vaccinations
· Techniques differ based on the dosage and administration statements describing directions for use
Injection Terms (Part 1)

Injection Terms (Part 2)

Blood Sampling
· Is used in the diagnosis and monitoring of disease and infection in animals
· Obtains an initial overview of the animal’s health, functionality of an organ or tests for a certain disease
· Requires special equipment and training
Blood Sampling Terms (Part 1)

Blood Sampling Terms (Part 2)

Laboratory Procedures
· Are a routine part of veterinary medicine and are conducted to establish baseline or “normal” values for healthy animal
· Determine the presence of illness or disease in an animal
· Help monitor a sick animal’s response to treatment
· Determine the risks of complications before surgery
· Commonly include:
- blood examinations
- fecal examinations
- urine examination
- culture and sensitivity
Laboratory Procedure Terms

Hospital Procedures
· Are other common procedures performed within the clinic by veterinary medical staff
· Include the following:
- clinic protocol
- emergency protocol and first aid
- animal care skills
- therapeutic care
- reproductive and genetic evaluation
- newborn, orphan and recumbent care
Hospital Procedures Terms (Part 1)

Hospital Procedures Terms (Part 2)

Surgical Procedures
· Are complex opertions performed by veterinarians and are used to benefit an animal’s health
· Most commonly performed within the veterinary clinic include:
- spaying
· surgicaly removing a female’s ovaries and uterus
- neutering
· surgically removing a male’s testicles
Surgical Procedures Terms

Veterinary Medical Equipment
· Is used to perform surgical procedures, the determination of health in animals and to administer medication
· Includes:
- common electronic technology
- common imaging equipment
- common surgical instruments
- common medication administration instruments
Common Electronic Technology
· Is used daily in veterinary clinics to help determine illness and the overall health of animals

Common Imaging Equipment
· Has revolutionized veterinary medicine by allowing veterinarians to determine disease, illness and overall health of animals easily

Common Surgical Instruments
· Are specially designed tools or devices which perform specific actions while performing surgery or an operation on animals

Common Medication Administration Instruments (Part 1)
· Are used to inject medication into an animal in order to diagnose, treat or prevent illness

Common Medication Administration Instruments (Part 2)

Pharmacology
· Is the study of medcine which focuses on the uses, effects and modes of actions in drugs
· Is divided into the study of pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics
Pharmacology Terms (Part 1)

Pharmacology Terms (Part 2)

Common Veterinary Abbreviations (Part 1)

Common Veterinary Abbreviations (Part 2)

Common Veterinary Abbreviations (Part 3)

Common Veterinary Abbreviations (Part 4)

Common Veterinary Abbreviations (Part 5)

Common Veterinary Abbreviations (Part 6)

Common Veterinary Abbreviations (Part 7)

Common Veterinary Abbreviations (Part 8)

Common Veterinary Symbols
