43: Ruminants

Question 1

For which of the following reasons are intramuscular injections given in the necks of food-producing animals rather than other sites?

a] It is the safest site for the injectors.
b] It is the least painful site for the animal.
c] The neck has better lymphatic drainage.
d] The neck has less value in the carcass.
e] It is the most convenient.

Answer 1

d] The neck has less value in the carcass.

Injection lesions can be trimmed out from the carcass’ neck without detracting from the value of the cut. This is not true of hindquarter cuts. The neck is often less safe and convenient to inject than the hindquarters because of the difficulty in restraining the head and neck. All intramuscular injections are painful. Commonly used injection sites have equal lymphatic drainage.

Question 2

Where is the superficial layer of the greater omentum in ruminants?

a] Right longitudinal groove of the rumen
b] Ruminoreticular groove
c] Left longitudinal groove of the rumen
d] Coronary groove of the rumen

Answer 2

c] Left longitudinal groove of the rumen

The superficial layer of the greater omentum originates at the left longitudinal groove of the rumen. The ventral sac of the rumen is located therefore between the two layers of the greater omentum.

Question 3

The appropriate landmarks for percutaneous liver biopsy in the cow are which of the following?

a] Right paramedian abdomen, between the xiphoid and the subcutaneous abdominal vein
b] Left paramedian abdomen, between the xiphoid and the subcutaneous abdominal vein
c] Right paralumbar fossa, just caudal to the last rib and 10 cm ventral to the lumbar transverse processes
d] Right 9th or 10th intercostal space, between the coxal tuber and the olecranon
e] Right 6th or 7th intercostal space, between the coxal tuber and the olecranon

Answer 3

d] Right 9th or 10th intercostal space, between the coxal tuber and the olecranon

The bovine liver can be biopsied in the right 9th or 10th intercostal space. The dorsal plane is where the intercostal space intersects with a line between the coxal tuber and olecranon.

Question 4

The penis of the ram is most accurately described as which of the following?

a] Fibroelastic, with a corkscrew shape
b] Fibroelastic, with a filiform process
c] Fibroelastic, with an upturned tip
d] Musculocavernous, with a bell-shaped glans
e] Muscular, with a flared glans

Answer 4

b] Fibroelastic, with a filiform process

The penis of rams is fibroelastic, with a filiform process at the end of the glans penis.

Question 5

Which of the following is the correct dental formula for goats?

a] 0/3, 0/1, 3/3, 3/3 = 32 teeth
b] 3/3, 1/1, 2/2, 3/3 = 32 teeth
c] 3/3, 0/1, 2/2, 3/3 = 34 teeth
d] 3/0, 1/1, 3/3, 3/3 = 34 teeth

Answer 5

a] 0/3, 0/1, 3/3, 3/3 = 32 teeth

Ruminants have no upper incisors or canines.

Question 6

Which of the following arteries is a significant source of blood to the penis of the bull?

a] External pudendal
b] Internal pudendal
c] Obturator
d] Ventral perineal

Answer 6

b] Internal pudendal

Question 7

The sigmoid flexure of the bull penis is _______ to the scrotum.

a] cranial
b] caudal
c] cateral
d] depends on the tightness of the sigmoid flexure

Answer 7

b] caudal

Question 8

A common intramuscular injection site used in cows is the left or right lateral neck region. This site can be located by using which of the following sets of landmarks to appropriately triangulate the correct location for administering the injection?

a] Distal to the ischiatic tuberosity, caudal to the femur, proximal to the stifle
b] Lateral to the lumbar spine, caudal to the last rib, cranial and medial to the iliac crest
c] Distal and cranial to the greater trochanter of the femur, cranial to the femur, proximal to the stifle
d] Ventral to the ligamentum nuchae, cranial to the spine of the scapula, dorsal to the esophageal groove
e] Caudal and medial to the tuber coxae, cranial to the ischiatic tuberosity, proximal/medial to the greater trochanter of the femur

Answer 8

d] Ventral to the ligamentum nuchae, cranial to the spine of the scapula, dorsal to the esophageal groove

a] would get you to the semitendinosus and semimembranosus; b], to the lumbar epaxial muscles; c], to the quadriceps; and e], to the cow and horse gluteal muscles.

Question 9

The 4th tarsal in the ox differs from that of the horse in that it

a] contacts the lateral malleolus.
b] extends from the proximal intertarsal joint to the tarsometatarsal joint.
c] is fused to the central tarsal.
d] is split into two bones.

Answer 9

c] is fused to the central tarsal.

Question 10

The microscopic structure of the bovine placenta is best described as which of the following?

a] Hemochorial
b] Endotheliochorial
c] Epitheliochorial
d] Deciduate
e] Syndesmochorial

Answer 10

c] Epitheliochorial

The bovine, equine, porcine, and ovine placenta is epitheliochorial. The placenta of dogs and cats is endotheliochorial, and the placenta of primates and rodents is hemochorial.

Question 11

As compared with rams, bucks have a scrotal circumference that is which of the following?

a] Larger
b] Smaller
c] Unrelated to fertility
d] Variable
e] Similar

Answer 11

b] Smaller
The scrotal diameter of bucks is smaller than that of rams.

Question 12

What is the source of progesterone to support pregnancy in goats?

a] Placenta
b] Corpus luteum
c] Corpus luteum and adrenal glands
d] Corpus luteum for the first 50 days of gestation and placenta from 50 days to term
e] Pineal gland and placenta

Answer 12

b] Corpus luteum

The corpus luteum of pregnancy secretes progesterone to maintain the pregnancy.

Question 13

In cows, caudal paralysis or paresis associated with calving is often related to damage of which of the following?

a] Obturator nerve
b] Sciatic nerve
c] Cauda equina
d] Peroneal nerve
e] Tibial nerve

Answer 13

b] Sciatic nerve

Caudal paresis after calving is usually associated with damage to the sciatic nerve.

Question 14

By which of the following approaches could a rumenotomy be performed after an abomasopexy?

a] Paramedian
b] Umbilical
c] Left flank
d] Dorsal right flank
e] Ventral right flank

Answer 14

c] Left flank

A standing approach is recommended for rumenotomy. Only from the left flank can both the abomasum and rumen be visualized, and then only if the abomasum is displaced.

Question 15

What is the average scrotal circumference of a normal 18-month-old Angus bull?

a] 28 cm
b] 30 cm
c] 32 cm
d] 34 cm
e] 36 cm

Answer 15

d] 34 cm

The average normal scrotal circumference for an 18-month-old Angus bull is 34 cm (range 31 to 36 cm). This is true for all of the European beef breeds (Angus, Hereford, Simmental, Charolais, etc.).

Question 16

On rectal palpation of a normal bull, which of the following cannot be palpated?

a] Seminal vesicles
b] Prostate gland
c] Ampullae of the vas deferens
d] Pelvic urethra
e] Bulbourethral glands

Answer 16

e] Bulbourethral glands

The bulbourethral glands cannot be palpated per rectum in normal bulls because they are deep to the pelvic urethra. If the pelvic urethra is greatly atrophied, the bulbourethral glands can be palpated.

Question 17

Which of the following is the least developed accessory sex gland of bulls?

a] Prostate gland
b] Bulbourethral gland
c] Seminal vesicular gland
d] Ampulla
e] Body of the epididymis

Answer 17

a] Prostate gland

The prostate gland of bulls is poorly developed.

Question 18

Which of the following is the best external landmark for the location of the ovary in a cow?

a] Between last rib and tuber coxae
b] Edge of the last rib
c] Greater trochanter
d] Ventral to tuber coxae

Answer 18

d] Ventral to tuber coxae

Question 19

Which of the following is closest to the external surface of the vulva of a cow?

a] Cervix
b] External uterine os
c] Internal uterine os
d] Suburethral diverticulum

Answer 19

d] Suburethral diverticulum

Question 20

Where do the superficial layer of the greater omentum in ruminants originate?

a] Right longitudinal groove of the rumen
b] Ruminoreticular groove
c] Left longitudinal groove of the rumen
d] Coronary groove of the rumen

Answer 20

c] Left longitudinal groove of the rumen

The superficial layer of the greater omentum originates at the left longitudinal groove of the rumen. The ventral sac of the rumen is located therefore between the two layers of the greater omentum.

Question 21

If the common peroneal nerve were damaged in a goat, you would expect the greatest detrimental effect on the ability of the goat to ______ the _______.

a] extend, stifle
b] extend, tarsus
c] flex, stifle
d] flex, tarsus

Answer 21

d] flex, tarsus

Question 22

The gross structure of the bovine placenta is best described as which of the following?

a] Diffuse
b] Zonary
c] Discoidal
d] Cotyledonary
e] Linear

Answer 22

d] Cotyledonary

The bovine placenta is cotyledonary. This is typical of ruminants. Mares and sows have a diffuse placenta, dogs and cats have a zonary placenta, and primates and rodents have a discoidal placenta.

Question 23

A standing right flank approach provides the best surgical approach for access to which of the following?

a] Right kidney, distal jejunum, and reticulum
b] Cecal apex, abomasal fundus, and left kidney
c] Proximal ileum, omaso-abomasal orifice, and cervix
d] Pyloric antrum, dorsal rumen sac, and ascending colon
e] Descending duodenum, spiral colon, and distal jejunum

Answer 23

e] Descending duodenum, spiral colon, and distal jejunum

A right flank approach provides good surgical access to more abdominal structures than any other approach; however, some structures require an alternative approach. Surgical access to the reticulum is limited to a cranioventral midline approach or transruminally via a left flank approach. The abomasal fundus is best accessed via a right paramedian approach. This approach is also best for access to the omaso-abomasal orifice, although access would still be poor in an adult cow. The dorsal rumen sac is best accessed via a left flank approach.

Question 24

In the ox forefoot, the majority of the dorsal surface is supplied by the _______ nerve, the majority of the palmar surface is supplied by the ________ nerve, and the lateral digit receives innervation from the ________ nerve in addition to the previous two.

a] Median, ulnar, radial
b] Radial, median, ulnar
c] Radial, ulnar, median
d] Ulnar, radial, median

Answer 24

b] Radial, median, ulnar

Question 25

At which site are you least likely to find a palpable lymph node in a normal cow?

a] Just cranial to the middle portion of the scapula
b] Just dorsal to the fold of the flank and cranial to the femur
c] On the cranial surface of the shaft of the ileum, at a point about one-third of the distance from the pubis to the tuber coxae (palpable per rectum)
d] At the thoracic inlet, on either side of the xiphoid process
e] Ventral to the vulva and dorsal to the base of the udder

Answer 25

d] At the thoracic inlet, on either side of the xiphoid process

There are no palpable lymph nodes at the thoracic inlet of a normal cow.