1.1 anatomical terminology

movement (in relation to a body part)

• Abduction - movement away from the body (abduction of the shoulder raises arms out to side of animal)
• Adduction - movement towards midline (abduction of hips squeeze legs together)
• Pronation - rotation of hand & forearm so palm faces down/backwards
• Supination - rotation of forearm & hand so palms face up/forwards
• Flexion - decrease angle between two body parts
• Extension - increase angle between two body parts
• Protraction - anterolateral movement of scapula on thoracic wall, allowing shoulder to move anteriorly (e.g. reaching out to grab something)
• Retraction - posteromedial movement of scapula on thoracic wall, allowing should to move posteriorly (e.g. picking something up)

planes

• Rostral - towards muzzle
• Cranial - nearer to skull
• Caudal - away from skull (towards tail)
• Proximal (limbs) - closer to body
• Distal (limbs) - away from body
• Ventral - closer to belly
• Dorsal - nearer to back
• Lateral (median plane) - further from midline
• Medial (median plane) - closer to midline, cut to equal right & left
• Sagittal plane - cut right & left, not equal
• Superficial - closer to surface (of skin)
• Deep - opposed to superficial
• Palmar - under fore-foot
• Plantar - under hind-foot
• Axial - closer to front of leg
• Abaxial - further from centre of leg

Estimating genetic merit is a process used to evaluate and compare the genetic potential of animals for specific traits. This is done by analyzing the animal's DNA and comparing it to a reference population. The resulting information can be used to make informed breeding decisions, such as selecting animals with desirable traits to produce the next generation.