Veterinary Terminology Flashcards
acute
having a sudden and severe onset
allergen
substance that causes allergic reaction
anorexia
loss of appetite
anterior cruciate ligament
major ligament at the knee of the rear leg
anthelmintic
medicine that kills certain intestinal worms
antibody titer
measurement of the number of antibodies in the blood
atopy
allergy to something that is inhaled
beta-carotene
plant pigment that can be converted to vitamin A by many animals, but not cats
biopsy
removal of a small portion of tissue for diagnosis and testing
bloating
condition in which the stomach twists an traps gas and contents
calcified
hardening of tissue by calcium
calorie
energy from digested food
cardiomyopathy
disease of the heart muscle
carnivore
animals whose natural diet is meat
carrier
animal who carries infectious diseases, but has no symptoms
cataract
cloudiness of the lens of the eye
chronic
happening for a long time
clotting factors
proteins in the blood which help it to clot
CNS
central nervous system: the brain and spinal cord
coagulation
process of clotting
cognitive dysfunction
common medical condition in older dogs that results from abnormal brain function, causing certain behavior changes
coma
state of unconsciousness
congenital
characteristic present at birth
cyst
abnormal sac containing fluid
DEA
Drug Enforcement Administration
dermatitis
inflammation of the skin
diabetes
failure of pancreas to produce insulin
digestibility
measure of food content that stays in the body after being eaten
distemper
viral disease in canines that is fatal
dysplasia
abnormal tissue development
ear canal
tube that connects the external ear to the eardrum
ear drum
membrane that divides the outer ear from the inner ear, vibrates to amplify sounds
ear mites
small parasites that live in the animal’s ear canal
echocardiogram
image produced by an ultrasound of the heart
ectoparasite
parasite that lives on the outside surface of an animal
ectopic
non-cancerous tissue growing in an unusual location
electrocardiogram
analysis of electrical activity of the heart
electrolyte
substance that transmits electricity when dissolved in water
emesis
vomiting
endoscope
long instruments that is inserted into the body to view various structures
entropion
condition in which the eyelid rolls in from the eyeball
ectropion
condition in which the eyelid rolls out from the eyeball
enzyme
substance that cause changes in other proteins
esophageal reflux
stomach contents move backward into esophagus
estrogen
female hormone produced by the ovaries
exotic
animal not native to where it is living
flatulence
increased stomach or intestinal gas (pooting)
foreign body
abnormal substance within the body
fragmented coronoid process
small piece broken off of the ulna
gastritis
inflammation of the stomach
gastroenteritis
upset of the gastrointestinal system from ingestion of toxic or non-food items
GDV
gastric dilation volvulus: twisting of the stomach on itself, life threatining condition
glaucoma
increased pressure in the eye, very painful, leads to blindness
heartworm
parasitic worm that lives and reproduces in the chambers of the heart
hemorrhage
to bleed excessively
hepatitis
inflammation of the liver
hernia
protrusion of an organ through an abnormal opening
high titer vaccine
vaccine that contains higher amounts of the live virus than the average vaccine
hip dysplasia
ball of the hip joint is not properly seated in the pelvic socket
immune system
body’s defense system which destroys infectious agents
immunodeficiency
reduced function of the immune system
immunostimulant
something that stimulates that immune system to work more effectively
immunosuppressive
something that reduces the function of the immune system
infestation
invasion of parasites
inflammation
condition in which tissue reacts to injury and undergoes changes
insulin
pancreatic hormone which lowers blood sugar
intramuscular
inside the muscles
intranasal
inside the nose
IV
intravenous: inside a vein
iris
colored portion of the eye
isoflavone
estrogen-like substance produced by pasture plants
jaundice
yellowish discoloration in the gums and skin
large intestine
also called colon, lower part of the intestinal tract, where feces are made
Legg-Perthes Disease
blood supply to the hip joint is disrupted
liver shunt
abnormal condition in which blood bypasses the liver
lymph nodes
part of the immune system, filter blood
malignant
cancerous
malnutrition
bad health due to dietary imbalance
mammary
pertaining to the breast
mange
condition of the skin and ear caused by mites
mast cell tumor
nodular growth on the skin
meal
ground-up preparation
neuter
sterilization by surgical removal of the testes of a male animal
nocturnal
active during the night; inactive during the day
nutrients
compounds in food that are essential for life
obsessive compulsive
animal repeatedly performs action due to stress, frustration, and conflict
over the counter
can be purchased without a prescription
pancreatitis
inflammation of the pancreas
parvovirus
contagious disease infecting the lining of the intestines in dogs
patellar luxation
dislocation of the kneecap of the hind legs
plaque
buildup of bacteria on the teeth
pneumonia
inflammation within the lung tissue
post-operative
after surgery
pulmonary edema
fluid accumulation in the lungs
pulmonary embolus
blood clot that obstructs the blood vessels to the lungs
rabies
fatal virus that affects the brain
sarcoma
cancer of the connective tissue
seizure
abnormal muscle spasms as a result of abnormal nerve signals in the brain
separation anxiety
pet becomes anxious when separated from their owner
septic
condition caused by an infection
spay
sterilization by removal of the uterus and ovaries in a female animal
titer
measurement of the amount of antibodies in the blood
ulcer
lesion in which the tissue surface is eroded away
ultrasound
technique used to picture the internal body by using ultrasound waves and their echoes
virus
infectious unit that enters animals to replicate
whelping
in dogs, giving birth
