Common Terms-Notes Flashcards
Abdomen
A region of the body between the chest and the pelvis; the belly
Abdominocentesis
The insertion of a needle into the abdominal cavity to remove fluids.
Abscess
A localized accumulation of pus; usually associated with infection
Acute
Having a sudden and generally severe onset
Anaerobic Bacteria
Bacteria which only live in an environments in which there is no or little oxygen.
Analgesia
Pain relief
Anaphylaxis
A rare, life-threatening, immediate allergic reaction to something ingested or injected.
Anemia
A condition in which the number of red blood cells present in the blood is lower than normal.
Anesthesia
Loss of sensation or feeling. Induced artificially with drugs to permit painful procedures such as surgery.
Anisocoria
A condition in which the pupils of the eyes are not of equal size.
Anorexia
Loss of appetite
Antibiotics
Usually refers to drugs administered to kill or inhibit the growth of bacteria. (NOT effective against viral infections)
Anticoagulation
Stopping the blood clotting process
Aspirate
Withdraw fluid or cells through the use of suction (usually the suction produced by pulling back on the plunger of a syringe attached to a needle which is inserted into the area to be sampled)
Antiemetic
An agent that decreases or stops vomiting
Asymptomatic
A term used to describe a condition in which no symptoms are present
Ataxia
A lack of muscle coordination, usually causing an abnormal or staggered gait.
Atrophy
An abnormal decrease in size of an organ or tissue
Auscultate
To listen for sounds produced within the body, usually with the aid of a stethoscope
Bacteria
Bacterium–microscopic organisms that lack nuclei and other organelles. Pathogenic species cause disease.
Antibacterial
Kills or stops the growth of bacteria.
- Bacteriolcidle: an agent that kills bacteria
- Bacteriostatic: an agent that stoops the growth (reproduction) of bacteria but does NOT kill them
Biopsy
The surgical removal of a small amount of abnormal tissue, usually tumors, for diagnosis
Bun
Short for, ‘blood urea nitrogen,’ a blood test that estimates kidney function.
Cachexia
Extreme weight loss
Calcified
The hardening of tissue through the influx of calcium. Usually chronic inflammation
Cardiac
Related to the heart:
- Cardiopulmonary: relating to the heart and lungs
- Cardiovascular
Carrier
An animal which harbors an infectious organism such as a virus, bacteria, or parasite. The animal does not always appear ill, but can still transmit the organism to other animals by direct contact or releasing the organisms (bacteria, Protozoa, viruses) in the stool, respiratory secretions, urine, or vaginal discharges.
Chronic
Of a long duration. A chronic illness persists for weeks, months, or even for the lifetime of an animal.
Coagulation
The process of clotting.
-Coagulopathy: a condition affecting the blood’s ability to form a clot.
Colostrum
The antibody-rich first milk produced immediately before and after giving birth.
-Maternal antibody: antibody in a newborn animal which the newborn acquired through the placenta or colostrum.
Complete Blood Count (CBC)
A count of the total number of cells in a given amount of blood including the red and white blood cells. It is one of the most common tests in a veterinary clinic.
Conception
The onset of pregnancy. When the fertilized egg attaches to the uterus.
Congenital
A characteristic of an animal that is present at birth. It may be inherited or induced by events that occur during pregnancy.
Contusion
An injury to underlying tissues without breaking the skin; a bruise
Coprophagia
Eating dung or fecal matter
Culture
The process in which a sample of fluid or tissue is taken from an animal and placed in special media which allows processing.
Cytology
The study of cells
Decontaminate
Remove injuries materials
Defecation
The elimination of feces from the rectum
Dehydration
A condition in which the body loses more water than it takes in
Dermal
Relating to the skin
-Dermatitis: inflammation of the skin
Diagnostic tests
Procedures run to find the cause of disease or discomfort; tests used to make a diagnosis
Disinfection
The act of using chemicals or heat to kill germs
Diuresis
Increase in urine production
-Diuretic: agent which increases the secretion of urine
Dysphagia
Abnormal swallowing
Dysplasia
An abnormal tissue development, common in the bones of the canine
Dyspenea
Shortness of breath
Dystocia
Difficult birth
Dysuria
Difficult or painful urination
Electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG)
A printout of an analysis of the electrical heart beat
Ectoparasite
External parasite; a parasite that lives on the outside surface or skin of another animal. (Fleas, ticks, lace, and mangemites)
Ectopic
Non-malignant tissue growing in an usual location (I.e. An ectopic pregnancy is conception of a normal embryo outside the normal location, which is the uterus)
Edma
A condition in which the tissues of the body contain too much body fluid. The fluid accumulation may cause swelling in the affected areas.
Emaciation
The severe loss of body weight. The body weight is usually less than 50% of that in a normal animal.
Encephalitis
The swelling or inflammation of the brain, often caused by a virus.
Encephalopathy
Disease of the brain
Endoscope
A long flexible instrument which can be passed into the body to view various structures through the use of fiber optics
Endotracheal tube
This tube is placed into the animal’s trachea (windpipe) to allow the oxygen and gasses to be breathed into the lungs.
Enteral feeding
A method to feed an animal in which a tube is placed through the body wall into the intestine, and a nutritious liquid is forced through the tube into the intestine.
Enteritis
An inflammation of the intestines, especially the small intestine.
Envenomation
The act of injecting a poisonous material (venom).
Epiphyte
An overflow of tears upon the cheeks due to a blockage or narrowing of the tear ducts.
Epistaxis
Bleeding from the nose
Erythema
Redness of the skin caused by blood clogging in small blood vessels; blushing
Exophthalmos
The abnormal outward protrusion (bulging) of the eye.
Estrus
The time when a female animal is fertile and receptive to the male. Also known as the heat period
Extracranial
Originating external to the cranial (brain) cavity
Extrahepatic
Outside of the liver
False negative test result
The result of a diagnostic test is negative, but the animal actually does have the condition tested for
False positive test result
The result of a diagnostic test is positive, but the animal actually does not have the condition tested for.
Fetal
Pertaining to an unborn animal
Fetus
The developing young in the uterus before birth
Fine needle–Aspirate
Auction is applied to a hollow needle which had been inserted into tissue and a core of the tissue is withdrawn to culture and/or examine microscopically
Foreign body
Any abnormal substance within the body. Examples include wood slivers, ingested cloth or balls, glass in the feet, etc.
Fracture
A break in the bone; generally caused by trauma, twisting, or weakened bone structure due to disease.
Biology
The study of all life
Zoology
The study of animals
Botany
The study of plants
Anatomy
Form and function; what things look like and where they are located
Physiology
Functions of the body and it’s parts; how things work and what they do
Pathology
The science or the study of the origin, nature, and course of diseases; the conditions and processes of a disease
Anatomical pathology
Forensic pathology, gross pathology, histopathology
Clinical pathology
Hematopathology, immunopathology
Embryology
The study of all the origin and development of an individual organism
Histology
The microscopic study of normal cells and tissues
