abdomen; abdominal:
cavity below the diaphragm containing abdominal tissues including
the stomach, intestine, kidneys, spleen etc.
abscess: collection of dead inflammatory cells and live
neutrophils, often with bacteria present
adhesion: sticking together of two or more tissues due
to inflammation or trauma
anemia; anemic: animal appears pale; quality or quantity
of blood is poor which occurs due to hemorrhage or to such conditions
as large masses, leukemias, lymphomas, etc.
anopthalmia: no eyes or very small eyes that are difficult
to see
anorexia; anorexic: lack of appetite or avoidance of food
anterior: refers to a structure being more in front than
another structure in the body
ataxia; ataxic: miscellaneous incoordination
atelectic (in lungs): airless condition such as a collapsed
lung lobe, may also be noted as consolidation.
atrophy; atrophic: marked decrease in size
autolysis; autolytic; autolyzed: rotting of cells after
death of the animal
azygous: unpaired
biliary: pertaining to bile
bulbous: having a bulb shape
cachexia: malnutrition associated with carcinoma or other
chronic condition
cachectic: the lack of appetite seen in cancer
calcareous, calciferous, calcification: all terms imply
the appearance of calcium deposition (i.e. chalky, white, hard,
and brittle)
calcinosis: condition of forming calcium deposit
calculus; calculi: stone in the kidney pelvis, gall bladder,
urethra, bladder
caseous: purulent material in a more solid form
caudal (inferior): refers to a structure being closer to
the feet or the tail end of the body than another relative structure
in the body
cirrhosis; cirrhotic: used to describe a fibrous condition
of the liver
coagulation; coagulative: clotting
contralateral: refers to a structure on the opposite side
of the body as the reference point.
coronal (frontal): longitudinal plane dividing the body
into equal or unequal front and back parts
cortex; cortical: the outer layer of an organ.
cranial (superior, rostral, head end) : refers to a structure
being closer to the head or higher than another structure of the
body.
cross (transverse): plane perpendicular to the longitudinal
plane dividing the body parts into upper and lower segments
cyanotic; cyanosis: animal or tissue appears blue or gray
due to lack of blood oxygenation
deep: refers to internal structures or structures further
away from a body wall than another.
degeneration; degenerative: similar to depletion but implies
a decrease in function and form
dehydration: lack of fluid in cellular and interstitial
spaces.
depleted; depletion: used up, exhausted-looking: a qualitative/descriptive
term rather than a diagnostic one
diaphragm; diaphragmatic: the muscle separating thoracic
and abdominal cavities
distal: refers to a structure being further away from the
median plane or the root of a limb than another structure in the
limb
dorsal: refers to the top side
edema; edematous: fluid accumulation within tissues,
esp. connective tissues
emaciation: no body fat
endometrium; endometrial: inner layer of the uterus, mucosa
enteric: pertaining to the intestines
enteritis: inflammation of the intestines;
epiglottis; epiglottal: the flap of tissue which
closes off the trachea when swallowing
epithelium; epithelial: pure cellular (nonvascular) layer
covering any free surface (skin or tubular structures such as
intestines, esophagus, uterus)
exudate: fluid which has seeped out of tissues or vessels
due to injury, increased permeability of cells, or inflammation
fibrosis; fibrotic: when connective tissue becomes
rigid and firm; nonelastic
follicle; follicular: sac, pouch; also a columnar depression
or cavity
friable: brittle
fundus; fundic: the bottom or lowest part of a sac or hollow
organ; term used most frequently referring to the stomach
fungating: literally, growing as a fungus would; also having
a spongy texture.
hemangioma; hemangiomatous: a lesion of the blood vessels
hemorrhage; hemorrhagic: uncontrolled or copious bleeding
hepatic; pertaining to the liver
hepatitis: inflammation of the liver
hepatomegaly: swelling or enlargement of the liver
hilis; pl. hili: the medial indentation in
an organ (notably lymph nodes and kidney) where the efferent and
afferent vessels enter and exit
hydrocephalic; hydrocephalus: swelling of the cranium either
due to fluid build up within or around the brain
hyperemia (congestion): congestion; pooling of blood
hyperplasia; hyperplastic: increase in cell number within
an organ or tissue
hypertrophy: enlargement of an organ or cell; swelling
due to increase in cell or organ size
hypotaxia; hypotaxic: poor or weak movements; disorientation
icteric; icterus: yellowed, may be due to bile or bilirubin
accumulation
in situ: in place
in vitro: in tissue culture
in vivo: in the living animal
incisor: teeth used to cut or incise, as opposed to guarding
inflamed; inflammation: changes in tissues caused by injury
or abnormal stimulation, chronic irritation (redness, heat, swelling,
pain and sometimes loss of function)
interstitium; interstitial: the microscopic spaces within
tissues
intussusception: the telescoping of intestine over a lesion
ipsilateral: refers to a structure on the same side of
the body as the reference point
keratinization: thickening of the epidermis by overproduction
of keratin, forming calluses
kyphosis; kyphotic: the hunched posture shown by animals
in distress or pain
larynx, laryngeal: voice box
lateral: refers to a structure that is further away from
the median plane than another structure
lethargic; lethargy: reluctance or inability to move or
respond to stimuli
lordosis; lordotic: the typical posture shown by many animals
in heat with the rump and tail elevated
medial: refers to a structure that is closer to the median
plane than another structure in the body
median: the midline, longitudinal plane dividing the body
into right/left halves
medulla; medullary: hindbrain, mostly concerned with motor
and basic life support functions; also the inner or middle portions
of an organ
meninges; meningial: lining of the brain and spinal cord
mesometrium; mesometrial: the membrane holding the uterine
horns to the body wall
metastasis; metastases; metastatic: spreading of a cancer
to a distant site usually through blood or lymph vessels
micropthalmia: small eyes
morbid: sick
moribund: near death
necrosis; necrotic; necrotizing: cell death
neoplasia; neoplastic: new growth or abnormal tissue growth
nephritis; nephritic: kidney inflammation
ocular: pertaining to the eyeball or eye socket
papilloma; papillomatous; papillary; papilla; papillae:
wart-like growth with or without a stalk
pedunculated; peduncle: having a stalk
perforate: having holes
perineum; perineal: the area of the vulva/scrotum and the
anal opening
periosteum; periosteal: the membrane surrounding bones
peritoneum; peritoneal: lining of the abdominal cavity
pharynx; pharyngeal: throat area containing openings to
both the trachea and the esophagus
piloerection: hair appears ruffled or erect, doesn't lie
down smoothly, often found in dehydrated, typical of malnourished
and very sick animals who don't or can't groom.
pleura; pleural: membranes lining the chest cavity and
lungs
polydipsia (dypsia): excessive drinking
polyp; polypoid: usually a smooth rounded growth with some
length of stalk, similar to a papilloma but generally arising
from an internal tissue
polyuria: excessive urination
posterior: refers to structure being more in back than
another structure in the body
prepuce; preputial: sheath that protects the penis
prolapse: protrusion or slippage of an organ or tissue
from its normal location
proximal: refers to a structure being closer to the median
plane or the root of a limb than another structure in the limb
pulmonary: pertaining to the lungs
purulent: descriptive term for what is found in most abscesses
or pus-like discharges
pylorus; pyloric: terminal segment of the stomach ending
at the duodenal junction.
sagittal: the longitudinal plane dividing structures into
left and right halves
scirrhous: hard, firm
sebaceous: usually refers to an oily or fatty secretion
septicemia; septicemic: systemic infection caused by microorganisms
circulating in the blood; whole body infection.
serum; serous: the clear tannish fluid that separates from
whole blood
sessile: lesion/mass without a stalk connected to main
tissue by a broad base
splenic: pertaining to the spleen
splenomegaly: marked enlargement of the spleen
stroma: connective tissue network of tumor or tissue
subcutaneous: beneath the skin
superficial: refers to structures on the external surface
of the body or a structure closer to the external surface of the
body than another
thrombus: fibrinous mass atached to endothelial tissue
or blood vessel
ventral: refers to belly side of the body
vertebra; pl. vertebrae; vertebral: bones
along the spinal cord
vesicle; vesicular: small liquid or gas filled sac
visceral: abdominal structure and organs