Vet Med Midterm

Lesson 1: Definitions and Acronyms

  • Zoology: Study of behavior, structure, classifications, and distributions of animals

  • Physiology: Study of how the animal body works, describing the chemistry and physics behind body function at molecular, cellular, and organ levels

  • Comparative Anatomy: Study of anatomical similarities in different species

  • Ecology: Branch of biology concerning relations of organisms to one another and their environment

  • Ethology: Science of animal behavior

  • Etiology: Study of causes of diseases

Organ Systems and Functions

  • Cardiovascular: Supplies oxygen and nutrients for bodily functions

  • Urogenital: Involved in reproduction; forms, stores, and eliminates urine

  • Musculoskeletal: Provides body structure and is responsible for movement

  • Integumentary: Acts as a barrier between internal and external environments while protecting from pathogens and regulating temperature

  • Gastrointestinal: Involved in digestion and absorption of nutrients

Medical Acronyms

  • Tx = Treatment

  • Hx = History

  • Dx = Diagnosis

  • DDx = Differential Diagnosis (when symptoms fit multiple categories)

  • TPR = Temperature, Pulse, Respiratory Rate

  • MM = Mucus Membranes

  • CRT = Capillary Refill Time

  • BID = Twice daily

  • SID = Once daily

  • TID = Three times daily

  • NPO = Nothing per OS (do not give orally)

  • ADR = Ain’t Doin' Right

Lesson 2: Anatomy and Physiology

Organ Systems

  • Respiratory: Takes in oxygen, expels carbon dioxide

  • Nervous: Acts as the command center of the body

  • Lymphatic: Maintains fluid levels and defends against infection

Organ Functions

  • Liver:

    • Filters toxins and harmful waste

    • Produces bile for fat digestion

    • Metabolizes proteins, carbs, and fats

    • Assists in blood clotting (e.g., vitamin K)

  • Kidney:

    • Filters blood, removes waste (e.g., ammonia, creatinine)

    • Regulates blood pressure (ACE)

    • Produces hormones and red blood cells

  • Stomach:

    • Temporary food reservoir, acid and enzyme secretion

    • Mixes food with digestive juices

  • Intestines:

    • Small intestine (1) Duodenum (2) Jejunum (3) Ileum (most digestion occurs here)

    • Large intestine (1) Cecum (2) Colon (3) Rectum (water absorption)

  • Pancreas:

    • Secretes digestive enzymes into the duodenum

    • Produces hormones like insulin

  • Heart:

    • Pumps blood, composed of muscle fibers

    • Four chambers: Left and Right Atrium, Left and Right Ventricles

    • Four valves: Tricuspid, Mitral, Pulmonary, Aortic

Blood Flow Pathway

  1. Vena Cava

  2. Right Atrium

  3. Right Ventricle

  4. Pulmonary artery

  5. Lungs

  6. Left Atrium

  7. Left Ventricle

  8. Aorta

  9. Body

  10. Back to Vena Cava

Lesson 3: Observational Diagnoses

  • Normal vs Healthy:

    • Normal: Subjective standard

    • Healthy: Refers strictly to health status

SOAP Format for Patient Assessment

  • Subjective: Interpretive; what is reported

  • Objective: Factual; measurable observations

  • Assessment: Interpretation of diagnostic data to provide a diagnosis

  • Plan: Treatment options including medications and surgeries

DAMN-IT Framework

  • Degenerative: Worsening structure/function over time

  • Auto-immune: Immune system attacking itself

  • Metabolic: Impacts metabolism (e.g., diabetes)

  • Neoplastic: Tumor growth conditions

  • Infectious: Caused by organisms (bacterial/viral)

  • Toxic: Chemical exposure causing harm

Lesson 4: Medical Terminology

Prefixes and Meanings

  • Hepat-: Liver

  • Gastro-: Stomach

  • Enter-: Intestine

  • Hyper-: Too much

  • Hypo-: Too little

  • Brachy-: Slow

  • Tachy-: Fast

  • Hema-: Blood

  • Osteo-: Bone

  • Toxo-: Poison

  • Derma-: Skin

  • Cardio-: Heart

Suffixes and Meanings

  • -pathy: Disease

  • -itis: Inflammation

  • -edema: Swelling

  • -emia: Blood presence

  • -algia: Pain

  • -ectomy: Surgical removal

  • -uria: Related to urine

Lesson 5: Diseases and Conditions

Common Liver Diseases

  • Hepatitis: Inflammation of the liver

  • Portosystemic Shunt (PSS): Abnormal blood flow

  • Infections: Various infections affecting the liver

  • Toxicity: Damage due to toxins

  • Neoplasia: Tumor development

Genitourinary System Diseases

  • Kidneys: Kidney failure, Chronic Kidney Disease

  • Bladder: Infections, stones, cancer (Transitional Cell Carcinoma)

  • Prostate: Prostatitis, infection

  • Ovarian: Cysts, cancer

  • Uterine: Pyometra (infected uterus)

Lesson 6: Diagnostics and Therapeutics

Lab Work

  • CBC: Complete blood count

  • Chemistry Panels: Assess liver and kidney function

  • IPS: Intestinal Parasite Screening

  • Pathology Tests: For cancer and immune system function

  • Cytology: Microscopic examination of cells

  • Urinalysis (UA): Examination of urine characteristics

Imaging Techniques

  • Radiology: X-rays for internal views

  • Ultrasound: Sound waves for soft tissue imaging

  • Endoscopy: Minimally invasive view of internal structures

  • CT/MRI: Advanced imaging for detailed internal views

Midterm Review

Key Concepts

  • Insulin Production: By the pancreas

  • Bladder Stones: Struvite (diet dissolvable) vs Calcium oxalate (requires surgery)

  • Thyroid Disorders: Hyperthyroidism (cats) vs Hypothyroidism (dogs)

  • Common Symptoms: Cataracts commonly seen with diabetes

Important Pathway for Blood Circulation

  • Pathway: Vena Cava, Right Atrium, Right Ventricle, Pulmonary Artery, Lungs, Left Atrium, Left Ventricle, Aorta, Body, back to Vena Cava

Topic Emphasis for Midterm

  • Definitions (especially etiology)

  • Acronyms (DAMNIT, SOAP)

  • Organ systems and functions

  • Medical terms (prefixes/suffixes)

  • Diseases and their presentations

  • Diagnostic processes and therapies

  • Key animal health indicators such as TPR

  • Common conditions associated with specific organs/systems