1. Vet Terminology
Anaplasia (ahn-ah-plā-zē-ah) is a change in the structure
of cells and their orientation to each other.
■ Aplasia (ā-plā-zē-ah) is lack of development of an organ
or a tissue or a cell.
■ Dysplasia (dihs-plā-zē-ah) is abnormal growth or development
of an organ or a tissue or a cell.
■ Hyperplasia (hī-pər-plā-zē-ah) is an abnormal increase
in the number of normal cells in normal arrangement in
an organ or a tissue or a cell.
■ Hypoplasia (hī-pō-plā-zē-ah) is incomplete or less than
normal development of an organ or a tissue or a cell.

2. Vet Terminology Neoplasia (nē-ō-plā-zē-ah) is any abnormal new
growth of tissue in which multiplication of cells is
uncontrolled, more rapid than normal, and progressive.
Neoplasms usually form a distinct mass of tissue
called a tumor (too-mər). Tumors may be benign
(beh-nīn), meaning not recurring, or malignant
(mah-lihg-nahnt), meaning tending to spread and
be life threatening. The suffix -oma (ō-mah) means
tumor or neoplasm.
■ Atrophy (ah-tō-fē) is decrease in size or complete wasting
of an organ or tissue or cell.

3. Vet Terminology
Dystrophy (dihs-trō-fē) is defective growth in the size of an organ or tissue or cell.
■ Hypertrophy (hī-pər-tō-fē) is increase in the size of an organ or tissue or cell.
The prefix a- means without, hypo- means less than normal,
hyper- means more than normal, dys- means bad, ana- means without, and neo- means new.

4. Vet Terminology Glands (glahndz) are groups of specialized cells that
secrete material used elsewhere in the body. Aden/o is the combining form for gland. Glands are divided into two categories:
exocrine and endocrine (Figure 2–15). Exocrine (ehck-sohkrihn)
glands are groups of cells that secrete their chemical
substances into ducts that lead out of the body or to another
organ. Examples of exocrine glands are sweat glands, sebaceous
glands, and the portion of the pancreas that secretes digestive
chemicals. Endocrine (ehn-dō-krihn) glands are groups of cells that secrete their chemical substances directly into the bloodstream, which transports them throughout the body

5. Vet Terminology
An organ (ohr-gahn) is a part of the body that performs a special function or functions.
bicornuate uterus (bi = two, corn = horn) is a uterus with two horns. Knowing that lateral means pertaining to the side, it would make sense that unilateral (yoo-nihlah- tər-ahl) means pertaining to one side. Bilateral (bī-lahtər- ahl) means pertaining to two sides.

6. Vet Terminology Joints
Joints or articulations (ahr-tihck-yoo-lā-shuhns) are connections
between bones. Articulate means to join in a way that
allows motion between the parts. Th e combining form for joint
is arthr/o. Th e diff erent types of joints are based on their
function and degree of movement.
Joints are classifi ed based on their degree of movement
(Figure 3–4). Synarthroses (sihn-ahrth-rō-sēz) allow no
movement, amphiarthroses (ahm-fi h-ahrthr-ō-sēz) allow
slight movement, and diarthroses (dī-ahrth-rō-sēz) allow
free movement.

7. Vet Terminology Synarthroses are immovable joints usually united with
fi brous connective tissue. An example of a synarthrosis is a
suture. A suture (soo-chuhr) is a jagged line where bones join
and form a nonmovable joint. Sutures typically are found in the
skull. A fontanelle (fohn-tah-nehl) is a soft spot remaining at
the junction of sutures that usually closes aft er birth.

8. Vet Terminology
Amphiarthroses are semimovable joints. An example of an
amphiarthrosis is a symphysis. A symphysis (sihm-fi h-sihs)
is a joint where two bones join and are held fi rmly together so
that they function as one bone. Another term for symphysis is
cartilaginous joint. Th e halves of the mandible fuse at a
symphysis to form one bone. Th is fusion is the mandibular
symphysis. Th e halves of the pelvis also fuse at a symphysis,
which is called the pubic symphysis.

9. Vet Terminology
Diarthroses are freely movable joints. Examples of diarthroses
are synovial joints. Synovial (sih-nō-vē-ahl) joints
are further classifi ed as ball-and-socket joints (also called
enarthrosis (ehn-ahr-thrō-sihs) or spheroid joints),
arthrodial (ahr-thrō-dē-ahl) or condyloid (kohn-dih-loyd)
joints, trochoid (trō-koyd) or pivot (pih-voht) joints, ginglymus
(jihn-glih-muhs) or hinge joints, and gliding joints.

10. Vet Terminology Ball-and-socket joints allow a wide range of motion
in many directions, such as the hip and shoulder joints.
Arthrodial or condyloid joints are joints with oval projections
that fi t into a socket, such as the carpal joints (where
the radius meets the carpus). Trochoid joints include articulating process between successive vertebrae. Primates
have an additional joint called the saddle joint. The only
saddle joint is located in the carpometacarpal joint of the
thumb. This saddle joint allows primates to flex, extend,
abduct, adduct, and circumduct the thumb.

12. Vet Terminology Ligaments and Tendons
A ligament (lihg-ah-mehnt) is a band of fi brous connective
tissue that connects one bone to another bone. Ligament/o
is the combining form for ligament. A ligament is diff erent from
a tendon. A tendon (tehn-dohn) is a band of fi brous connective
tissue that connects muscle to bone. Th e combining forms
for tendon are ten/o, tend/o, and tendin/o.

13. Vet Terminology
Bursa
A bursa (bər-sah) is a fibrous sac that acts as a cushion to
ease movement in areas of friction. Within the shoulder
joint is a bursa where a tendon passes over bone. The combining
form for bursa is burs/o. More than one bursa is
bursae (bər-sā).

15. Vet Terminology Synovial Membrane and Fluid
Bursae and synovial joints have an inner lining called the
synovial (sih-nō-vē-ahl) membrane. Th e synovial membrane
secretes synovial fl uid, which acts as a lubricant to make joint
movement smooth. Synovi/o is the combining form for
synovial membrane and synovial fl uid.

16. Vet Terminology
Th e cranium (krā-nē-uhm) is the portion of the skull that
encloses the brain. Th e combining form crani/o means skull.
Th e cranium consists of the following bones (Figure 3–5):
■ frontal (frohn-tahl) = forms the roof of the cranial cavity
or “front” or cranial portion of the skull. In some species,
the horn, or cornual (kohrn-yoo-ahl) process, arises
from the frontal bone (Figure 3–6).
■ parietal (pah-rī-ih-tahl) = paired bones that form the
roof of the caudal cranial cavity.

17. Vet Terminology Skull shapes in dogs can vary by breed. Examples
of skull shapes in dogs include the following:
■ Brachycephalic (brā-kē-seh-fahl-ihck) dogs
have short, wide heads, as do pugs and
Pekingese.
■ Dolichocephalic (dō-lih-kō-seh-fahl-ihck)
dogs have narrow, long heads, as do collies
and greyhounds.
■ Mesocephalic (mehs-ō-seh-fahl-ihck) dogs
have average width to their heads, as do
Labrador retrievers. Also called mesaticephalic
(mehs-āt-ih-seh-fahl-ihck).

18. Vet Terminology
■ occipital (ohck-sihp-ih-tahl) = forms the caudal aspect
of the cranial cavity where the foramen magnum, or
opening for the spinal cord, is located. Foramen
(fō-rā-mehn) is an opening in bone through which
tissue passes. Magnum (māg-nuhm) means large.
■ temporal (tehm-pohr-ahl) = paired bones that form the
sides and base of the cranium.
■ sphenoid (sfeh-noyd) = paired bones that form part of
the base of the skull and parts of the floor and sides of
the bony eye socket.
■ ethmoid (ehth-moyd) = forms the rostral part of the cranial
cavity.
■ incisive (ihn-sīs-ihv) = forms the rostral part of the hard
palate and lower edge of nares.

19. Vet Terminology
■ pterygoid (tahr-ih-goyd) = forms the lateral wall of the
nasopharynx.
In addition to bones, the skull also has air- or fl uid-fi lled spaces.
Th ese air- or fl uid-fi lled spaces are called sinuses (sīn-uhs-ehz).
Let’s Face It
Th e bones of the face consist of the following:
■ zygomatic (zī-gō-mah-tihck) = projections from the
temporal and frontal bones to form the cheekbone.
■ maxilla (mahck-sih-lah) = forms the upper jaw.
■ mandible (mahn-dih-buhl) = forms the lower jaw.
■ palatine (pahl-ah-tihn) = forms part of the hard palate.

20. Vet Terminology
lacrimal (lahck-rih-mahl) = forms the medial part of the
orbit.
■ incisive (ihn-sī-sihv) = forms the rostral part of the hard
palate and lower edge of nares.
■ nasal (nā-sahl) = forms the bridge of the nose.
■ vomer (vō-mәr) = forms the base of the nasal septum.
Th e nasal septum (nā-sahl sehp-tuhm) is the cartilaginous
structure that divides the two nasal cavities.
■ hyoid (hī-oyd) = bone suspended between the mandible
and the laryngopharynx.

21. Vet Terminology The vertebral formulas for diff erent species are as
follows:
■ dogs and cats: C = 7, T = 13, L = 7, S = 3,
Cy = 6–23
■ equine: C = 7, T = 18, L = 6 (or L = 5 in some
Arabians), S = 5, Cy = 15–21
■ bovine: C = 7, T = 13, L = 6, S = 5,
Cy = 18–20
■ pigs: C = 7, T = 14–15, L = 6 – 7, S = 4,
Cy = 20–23
■ sheep and goats: C = 7, T = 13, L = 6–7,
S = 4, Cy = 16–18
■ chicken: C = 14, T = 7, LS = 14, Cy = 6
(lumbar and sacral vertebrae are fused)

22. Vet Terminology The vertebral (vər-teh-brahl) column (also called the
spinal column and backbone) supports the head and body
and protects the spinal cord. Th e vertebral column consists of
individual bones called vertebra (vər-teh-brah). Th e combining
forms for vertebra are spondyl/o and vertebr/o. More
than one vertebra are called vertebrae (vər-teh-brā).